Following the 7-0 drubbing in Slovenia, as Maribor arrived on Merseyside Liverpool fans would have been forgiven for being slightly apprehensive. A team assured to put bodies behind the ball has proven to be a sticky opponent for many a Jürgen Klopp team.
Setting up with a back five, Maribor frustrated Liverpool, and the hosts failed to find the back of the net.
In the opening exchanges of the second half, a Mohamed Salah flick from a Trent Alexander-Arnold cross prompted one of the greatest sighs of relief Anfield has ever collectively produced.
James Milner spurned the chance to make it two from the spot, as 39-year-old goalkeeper Jasmin Handanovic got down rapidly to push it onto the post.
To give credit to the visitors, a lively reaction in the wake of the penalty miss briefly threatened Loris Karius’ goal, but some smart defending kept Maribor staring at another game without a goal.
Milner redeemed himself by with a divine one-two with Emre Can, the German burying the second goal of the night.
An Alberto Moreno delivery fell kindly to Daniel Sturridge with time ticking away, and the striker added a third, taking the Reds to 10 goals in two games.
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