Liverpool edged closer to qualification for the Champions League knockout stages with a 3-0 win over Maribor.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are hardly charging towards their target – despite the 7-0 thrashing of the Slovenians a fortnight ago – and this match reflected their incremental progress in Group E.
There was another missed penalty, from James Milner, but leading scorer Mohamed Salah’s 10th of the season, a classy Emre Can goal and a late Daniel Sturridge strike secured victory and they lead Sevilla by a point – victory in Spain in three weeks would see the Reds qualify with a match to spare.
So, who else is there to take a pen then?
— Alex Rea (@AlexReaSport) November 1, 2017
Here are three things learned from Anfield.
Ever since Sadio Mane’s injury the debate over team selection has revolved largely around Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and the question of when he’ll make his full league debut in Red.
That’s still to happen but on the basis of his performance in a first Champions League start for his new club, the 24-year-old should be in the XI against West Ham on Saturday.
Maribor are a poor side there’s no questioning that, but Oxlade-Chamberlain’s integration into a new style and system is virtually complete after he profited from their inferiority.
He attempted six crosses and many of his deliveries were good. Perhaps the Reds lack the height and power to really make use of them but he offers something different to Mohamed Salah who often cuts inside.
Regardless, he was positive and he appears a lot more settled. Jurgen Klopp praised him post-match for his pressing and it’s one sign that he’s beginning to make strides.
With no Adam Lallana, Sadio Mane or Philippe Coutinho, his emergence has come at the right time for Liverpool.
Oxlade-Chamberlain attempts a shot on goal
Daniel Sturridge is held high in Liverpool fan’s affections and it will be pleasing in the week the 28-year-old reached 100 club goals he also reached another feat.
His late goal for the host’s third – another tidy finish to follow his sumptuous strike against Huddersfield – was staggeringly his first in the Champions League since scoring against Zilina for Chelsea in November 2010.
It’s both sad and infuriating that we haven’t seen the best of Sturridge since his exploits in the 2013/14 campaign with injuries typically hallmarking his Anfield career.
But the England international has the appetite and crucially the fitness to force his way back into contention for a regular starting berth.
And while the Reds were victorious against Maribor it would be nice to see Klopp mix it up and operate with two up front with Sturridge in the two.
On the evidence of this season, he’s still arguably the club’s best finisher and utilising him as much as possible would be in the German boss’s best interest.
Sturridge celebrates Liverpool’s third
Liverpool’s last scorer from the penalty spot was James Milner so it seemed right that after misses from Divock Origi, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino he would be the one called upon should another be awarded.
Wrong. While Jasmin Handanovic deserves credit for a super stop, Milner’s failure from the spot means the Reds have now missed five of their last seven penalties.
It begs the question of who is next to try their luck?
Captain Jordan Henderson appears an obvious candidate but considering the ability he’s shown from set-pieces already why not just allow Trent Alexander-Arnold step up.
It’s an issue Klopp needs to rectify because although it hasn’t come back to bite them against Huddersfield and Maribor, against better quality opposition they could be made to pay.
Milner saw his penalty tipped onto the post
