Liverpool finally found their form in front of goal to score seven in a record-breaking European away victory against hapless Maribor and finally kick-start their Champions League campaign.
The Reds’ front three of Mohamed Salah (two), Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho got the goals as they put their opponents to the sword in the first half with Firmino adding a fifth shortly after the break and deadline-day signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scoring his first for the club late on followed by Trent Alexander-Arnold’s added-time effort.
Their previous best away from home in Europe had been 5-0 – against Reykjavik in 1964, Crusaders in 1976 and Haka in 2001 – but the Slovenians made that record easy to beat.
Tweet of the match
Star man
Mohamed Salah: Scored two goals – and it could have been more – with one assist and a constant threat down the right with his pace and direct running.
Mohamed Salah
Moment of the match
Philippe Coutinho’s cushioned volley for Liverpool’s second. A real touch of class.
Data point
Goals from Salah (two), Firmino and Philippe Coutinho saw Liverpool become the first English club to score four goals in the first half of an away fixture in the Champions League. Another goal for Firmino meant Liverpool also registered five away from home in the competition for the first time.
Player ratings
Maribor
Jasmin Handanovic: 5
Martin Milec: 4
Aleksander Rajcevic: 4
Marko Suler: 3
Mitja Viler: 3
Marwan Kabha: 4
Blaz Vrhovec: 4
Martin Kramaric: 4
Valon Ahmedi: 5
Damjan Bohar: 5
Marcos Tavares: 4
Substitutes
Aleks Pihler (on for Ahmedi, 58): 5
Dino Hotic (on for Kramaric, 58): 5
Jasmin Mesanovic (on for Bohar, 80): 4
Liverpool
Loris Karius: 6
Trent Alexander-Arnold: 7
Joel Matip: 7
Dejan Lovren: 6
Alberto Moreno: 7
James Milner: 8
Georginio Wijnaldum: 7
Emre Can: 7
Mohamed Salah: 8
Roberto Firmino: 7
Philippe Coutinho: 8
Substitutes
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (on for Salah, 57): 7
Daniel Sturridge (on for Firmino, 67): 7
Dominic Solanke (on for Wijnaldum, 76): 6
Who’s up next?
Tottenham v Liverpool (Premier League, Sunday October 22)