Good evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's Champions League Group E clash between Liverpool and Maribor at Anfield!

There were no shortage of surprise results in the Champions League last night, but Maribor are looking to pull off the biggest upset of the lot this evening as they take on a team who beat them 7-0 on their own turf just a fortnight ago. It is still all to play for in the congested Group E, so this is a huge match for Liverpool in particular as they bid to reach the knockout stages on their return to the competition.

Before we take a closer look, though, let's first check out the team news...

LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Karius; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Klavan, Moreno; Can, Milner, Wijnaldum; Salah, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Firmino

LIVERPOOL SUBS: Mignolet, Gomez, Robertson, Henderson, Grujic, Solanke, Sturridge

MARIBOR STARTING XI: Handanovic; Billong, Rajcevic, Suler, Milec; Pihler, Viler; Bohar, Kabha, Hotic; Mesanovic

MARIBOR SUBS: Vrhovec, Ahmedi, Tavares, Vrsic, Bajde, Palcic, Obradovic

What can we make of those two sides?

Well, the headline news as far as Liverpool are concerned is that Philippe Coutinho once again missed out having also been forced to miss the weekend win over Huddersfield through injury.

The Brazilian, who did not train last night due to the problem, has scored in his last two Champions League appearances for Liverpool having failed to find the back of the net in his first 15, but he will play no part this evening having failed to recover in time for the game.

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Coutinho's absence means that Liverpool are again missing both of their Ballon d'Or nominees, with Sadio Mane also current sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Indeed, it is a lengthy injury list for the Reds which also includes key players such as Nathaniel Clyne and Adam Lallana, while Dejan Lovren also misses out tonight. The Croatian, whose performances have been heavily scrutinised in recent weeks, picked up a groin injury during the build-up to the weekend win over Huddersfield and has not recovered in time to feature tonight as Ragnar Klavan continues to deputise.

There is more positive news on the injury front when it comes to Alberto Moreno, who has overcome a case of cramp to start at left-back this evening, while Joe Gomez is also deemed fit enough for the bench despite a recent knock.

There is one change to the back four from the weekend as Trent Alexander-Arnold - who scored the seventh and final goal of the reverse fixture a fortnight ago - replaces Gomez, while there is also a change between the sticks as Loris Karius replaces Mignolet, as he has for all of the Champions League matches so far.

Captain Jordan Henderson drops out of the starting lineup this evening and is only given a place on the bench as Emre Can returns to the fold, meaning that it is the same midfield trio that started the reverse fixture in Slovenia.

Wijnaldum was on the scoresheet against Huddersfield at the weekend and will be hopeful of offering more attacking threat tonight, while James Milner is handed a fourth consecutive start in his preferred midfield role. The England international, who spent the majority of last season as a makeshift left-back, was one of the stars of the show a fortnight ago and has seemingly worked his way into Klopp's thinking again.

Up front for Liverpool there is finally a full Champions League debut for deadline-day signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is expected to fill in on the left flank in place of the injured Coutinho.

The former Arsenal man replaces Daniel Sturridge despite the latter's goal at the weekend, with Oxlade-Chamberlain having scored his first for the club in the reverse. That will see Roberto Firmino return to a central striking role with Salah remaining out wide. Both of them got braces in Slovenia a fortnight ago and, along with Coutinho, have directly contributed to four goals apiece already in this season's competition.

As for Maribor, the main dangerman for the visitors tonight is likely to be Jasmin Mesanovic, who has scored seven goals in his last eight domestic matches from the club.

The Bosnian leads the line tonight fresh off the back of scoring the only goal of the game at NK Domzale on Saturday to hand Maribor a crucial victory, and with questions still abound over Liverpool's defending he will be dreaming of scoring a goal at Anfield tonight.

It is no surprise to see Mesanovic chosen as the main striker considering his fine recent form, which is in stark contrast to Brazilian Macros Tavares.

Tavares started the reverse fixture a fortnight ago, but he was dropped to the bench for the game against Domzale at the weekend following a 10-game scoring drought, and he has been left amongst the substitutes again tonight. It is likely to be a thankless task for whoever leads the line tonight, though.

Maribor have made four changes from their starting XI in the last meeting between these two sides, with Mesanovic being joined in the starting lineup by Hotic, Pihler and Billong, the latter of whom could make up a back three - although in practice that is more likely to be a back five at least.

There is just one change from the weekend win over Domzale, meanwhile, with Billong replacing Vrsic in the starting lineup.

It looks set to be a long evening for Maribor, particularly if the reverse fixture is anything to go by. Liverpool had been threatening to run riot against a team for much of the season, and their opening two Champions League games were a tale of failing to take their chances, but there was none of that in Slovenia.

The Reds wasted no time in building a commanding advantage and they went on to record a 7-0 win - their biggest ever away Champions League victory and the biggest by any English club on their travels in the competition.

Indeed, it was the biggest away win by an English club in any European competition since Arsenal beat Standard Liege by the same scoreline in the Cup Winners' Cup back in November 1993, and level with the biggest away win by any club in the Champions League era.

It is unrealistic to expect something similar this evening despite Liverpool now enjoying the home advantage, but anything other than a comfortable victory for the Reds would be a huge shock considering what happened in Slovenia.

Liverpool are beginning to show signs of getting back to form, losing just one of their last seven matches across all competitions, but that defeat was a heavy one at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur and they still have plenty of work to do.

Saturday's 3-0 victory over Huddersfield Town was only their third win in their last 11 outings across all competitions, with three defeats and five draws in that time too. Another win tonight would mark back-to-back victories for the first time since August.

That is certainly not the form of title challengers, and sure enough Liverpool have slipped down the standings and are arguably out of the title race with just over a quarter of the season gone now.

The Reds currently sit sixth in the Premier League table and are only three points off the top four, which would again have been their primary target for the campaign, but they are also 12 points adrift of runaway leaders Manchester City and that looks like a huge gap to make up even with so much of the campaign remaining.

On the European front Liverpool have not been entirely convincing either, although they remain unbeaten in Group E and come into matchday four as the leaders.

It could be so much better for Klopp's side, though, and they could well have been playing for qualification tonight. The Reds should have won their opening two fixtures - against Sevilla at Anfield and Spartak Moscow in Russia - but their wastefulness in front of goal saw both matches end as draws before they finally picked up their first win of the campaign a fortnight ago by hammering Maribor.

That leaves Liverpool on five points in Group E, level with Spartak and just one in front of Sevilla at the halfway stage of the group.

Liverpool are now unbeaten in their last seven Champions League outings including qualifiers, and have not lost any of their last 11 European group games, including the Champions League and Europa League, although eight of those games have ended as draws.

The 7-0 win in Slovenia was also Liverpool's first win in their last eight Champions League group games, bringing an end to their worst ever run in the competition.

Liverpool are still unbeaten at Anfield across all competitions this season, but the weekend win over Huddersfield was their first in front of their own fans since that 4-0 triumph over Arsenal, ending a run of three consecutive draws.

The Reds are unbeaten in their last 11 European home games stretching back to a 3-0 loss at the hands of Real Madrid in October 2014, but they have only won one of their last six home Champions League group games and have not keep an Anfield clean sheet in this competition since September 2009.

Klopp's side have generally been strong at the back at Anfield this season, though, despite the criticism aimed at their defence. They have conceded just five goals in their seven home games across all competitions this term, compared to 19 in their nine away outings.

Even if Liverpool's home form had been as poor as their away form, most still wouldn't give Maribor a chance of getting anything out of this game tonight.

The Slovenian champions, who have won six of their last seven domestic titles, look out of their depth at this level and, since picking up a late home draw against Spartak Moscow on matchday one, they have conceded 10 goals without reply in defeats to Sevilla and Liverpool.

The congested nature of Group E means that Maribor are still in contention for a top-two spot, but they would need to pull off some unlikely comebacks along the way if they are to achieve that.

No team in the entire competition had conceded more goals after three group games than Maribor - helped, of course, by that 7-0 defeat to Liverpool - and defeat tonight would spell their end of their Champions League hopes if Spartak Moscow also win away to Sevilla.

Maribor are a team who are used to being in a winning habit, but the jump up in quality from the Slovenian league to the Champions League is clear to see from their form.

Darko Milanic's side have only lost three of their 24 matches across all competitions this season, but all three of those defeats have come in the Champions League. Domestically Maribor remain unbeaten in the league and cup, leaving them level on points with fierce rivals Olimpija Ljubljana at the top of the table.

Back-to-back 1-0 wins since that hammering by Liverpool a fortnight ago means that should Maribor pull off a huge shock tonight then they would have won three games on the bounce for the first time since August, while they could also keep three clean sheets in a row for the first time since September.

The Slovenes have only ever won one match in the Champions League proper, though, with that coming in their first ever appearance in the competition when they beat Dynamo Kiev 1-0 way back in September 1999. Since then, they are winless in 14.

This is Maribor's third appearance in the Champions League group stages overall, and they certainly had to work to make it even this far having been entered in the second qualifying round, with their campaign beginning on July 12.

Maribor beat Bosnia side Zrinjski 3-2 on aggregate in the first round before overcoming Iceland's FH 2-0 to reach the playoffs. Hapoel Be'er Sheva awaited them there, and Maribor only scraped past the Israeli outfit on away goals following a 2-2 aggregate draw.

Maribor have won five of their last six away games in all competitions, but as you might have guessed by now, the exception came in this competition when they were beaten 3-0 by Sevilla on matchday two.

Milanic's side have actually won nine of their 12 away games across all competitions all season, but in the Champions League they have only won three of their last 15 on the road including qualifiers, drawing five and losing seven in that time.

The name of Maribor manager Darko Milanic may be familiar to fans of English football, and for good reason as he once had a stint on these shores - albeit a very short-lived one.

Milanic was one of those barely given a chance to settle in behind the desk at Elland Road under Massimo Cellino, lasting only 32 days as Leeds United boss in 2014 before being sacked.

PREDICTION: We're 10 minutes away from kickoff in this one, which means that it is time for a prediction!

Maribor will be desperate not to be on the end of another hiding tonight, and as such they may come out in damage limitation mode from the word go here. I still expect Liverpool to run out comfortable and convincing winners, but they are unlikely to reach that seven-goal tally from a fortnight ago.

SPORTS MOLE SAYS: Liverpool 4-0 Maribor

That 7-0 win in Slovenia was the first ever meeting between these two sides, and only the third occasion Liverpool had ever come up against Slovene opposition in their illustrious history.

The previous times came in the first round of the 2003-04 UEFA Cup, when they were held to a 1-1 draw with Olimpija in Ljubljana before running out 3-0 winners in the reverse at Anfield to progress into the next round.

This will be Maribor's fifth visit to England for a competitive match, and it won't surprise many to learn that they have lost each of the previous four.

Indeed, their most recent visit saw them on the end of a 6-0 drubbing at the hands of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the 2014-15 Champions League group stages, so another goalfest for Liverpool is certainly not out of the question tonight.

Maribor have beaten English opposition before though, doing so when they came up against Wigan Athletic in the 2013-14 Europa League group stages with a 2-1 victory in Slovenia.

That is their only triumph in nine previous meetings with Premier League clubs, though, losing six of those and drawing two.

The players are on their way out onto the field now, and we're almost ready to go here. Before we get started, let's have a quick recap of the team news...

LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Karius; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Klavan, Moreno; Can, Milner, Wijnaldum; Salah, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Firmino

MARIBOR STARTING XI: Handanovic; Billong, Rajcevic, Suler, Milec; Pihler, Viler; Bohar, Kabha, Hotic; Mesanovic

KICKOFF: Here we go! Maribor get us underway at Anfield!

Unsurprisingly it is Liverpool asking the early questions here, winning an early corner which is comfortably dealt with. The Reds scored early a fortnight ago, which is something Maribor will be desperate to avoid happening again here.

Important piece of defending from Billong as he clears a dangerous ball into the box. The Frenchman is an extra defender in the side tonight, with the view of keeping the score down.

Liverpool are knocking on the door, and it is already feeling as though the opening goal could be just around the corner. Maribor have so many men behind the ball that Liverpool may need to be a little more patient than last week, though.

Another important piece of defending from Billong to deny Oxlade-Chamberlain a good chance inside the area. It was good football from the hosts, but there were too many men inside the box.

Almost a chance for Liverpool as Alexander-Arnold whips a cross into the box which Firmino gets his head to, but he can't get enough on his header to steer it on target.

It may take either a long-range strike, a counter-attack or some really incisive play to break the deadlock tonight. It is so congested in and around the Maribor box, with Liverpool camped in the opposition half at the moment.

Salah spins away from Suler on the edge of the box before trying to curl one into the bottom corner, but his effort is blocked and bounces behind for a corner which Handanovic claims.

UPDATE: We have our first Champions League goal of the evening! Feyenoord take the lead against Shakhtar Donetsk, although the Ukrainian side have hit back quickly and it is now 1-1.

Elsewhere, Porto have also taken the lead against Leipzig through Hector Herrera.

There is concern over Wijnaldum here - he is not moving freely whatsoever and it looks as though his night might be coming to a premature end. It is an injury out of nothing, but he appears to have gone over on his ankle.

LIVERPOOL SUB: Sure enough there is the change as Jordan Henderson replaces Wijnaldum and immediately gets the armband from Milner.

UPDATE: It's all happening in Donetsk right now, where Shakhtar have turned things around to lead Feyenoord 2-1.

Almost a chance for Liverpool, but once again they are denied by a fine piece of defending from Billong. A low ball into the box was almost met by Oxlade-Chamberlain, but Billong got a toe to it at the crucial moment.

YELLOW CARD! The referee opted for leniency when Milner was on the end of a heavy challenge moments ago, but this time he does produce the yellow card for a tug by Bohar on Salah.

SHOT! Henderson tries his luck from range as the ball arrives to him just outside the area, but it is on his weaker left foot and he can only scuff a tame finish wide of the target.

CHANCE! This is the first big chance that Liverpool have been waiting for! Salah peels off his man inside the box to latch on to a cross from Alexander-Arnold, but he can't ready himself in time to get a shot away and the best opening of the game so far goes begging.

UPDATE: Contrasting updates for the other English clubs in action tonight as Manchester City have fallen behind against Napoli through Lorenzo Insigne, whereas Tottenham lead European champions Real Madrid at Wembley courtesy of a Dele Alli strike.

Still no way through for Liverpool here as we approach the half-hour mark. The Reds have dominated possession, but they are finding it difficult to break through this stubborn Maribor defence, who are performing much better than they did a fortnight ago.

OFF THE BAR! Liverpool are inches away from breaking the deadlock, but a brilliant save from Handanovic onto the crossbar denies them! Oxlade-Chamberlain whipped the cross into the box and Firmino gets in front of his man, but the final touch comes off Billong to send it looping towards goal. Time almost seems to stop as Handanovic watches it go over him, but he manages to claw it onto the bar and behind for a corner. Brilliant save.

SAVE! The resulting corner is met by a Liverpool head, but the effort is straight at Handanovic.

CHANCE! The chances are beginning to arrive for Liverpool now, and again this one comes from an Oxlade-Chamberlain cross. He clips the ball into the box for Can, but he just can't get over it and nods it well off target.

The Reds pour forward again and Firmino tries to thread a pass through for Salah, but the winger cannot react in time to take it in his stride.

Again Liverpool threaten, but this time it is Firmino who cannot bring the ball under his spell. Liverpool are looking more and more threatening, though.

UPDATE: There has been a goal in the group's other game, with Sevilla taking the lead against Spartak Moscow - a goal which as things stand leaves Sevilla top of Group E above Liverpool.

Elsewhere, Dortmund now lead APOEL and Manchester City have levelled things up against Napoli through Otamendi.

CHANCE! Another chance for Liverpool as Maribor's marking goes walkabout to leave Firmino on his own in the area. The Brazilian rises to meet the corner, but he can't get enough on his header when he should have done better.

Another corner arrives into the Maribor box and once again Firmino meets it, but this time it is a little too high and he can only flick it on to no-one.

There are only five minutes remaining in this first half, and incredibly this is the only Champions League game without a goal so far tonight. It still feels as though a goal will come for Liverpool, but they are being made to wait for it.

Maribor have all 11 players in their own third at the moment, and that has been the case for much of this first half. It is difficult for Liverpool due to the lack of space, but they need to be patient.

Firmino pokes the ball into the feet of Salah, who tries a first-time effort which he skies well over the crossbar. Salah had two unmarked men coming in behind him, but he was within his rights to go for goal himself - he just didn't execute it as he would have liked.

There will be just the one minute of added time at the end of this first half.

The referee brings an end to the first half at Anfield, and we are still goalless between Liverpool and Maribor just a fortnight after the Reds thrashed Maribor 7-0 in Slovenia.

The home side has once again dominated proceedings, but clear-cut chances have been few and far between and it has been a frustrating night for Jurgen Klopp's side so far.

The closest Liverpool have come to breaking the deadlock came when they hit the crossbar on the half hour mark, but even that came from a Maribor player.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's delivery was initially met by Firmino, but the final touch came off Billong to send the ball looping towards goal. Handanovic showed great athleticism for a 39-year-old, though, clawing the ball onto the woodwork and behind for a corner.

Emre Can, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah have all missed sights of goal themselves, with the final pass or touch letting Liverpool down in the last third on occasion.

Considering how much of the ball they have seen, though, they have created enough even accounting for Maribor's defensive style. The visitors have had 11 men packed behind the ball almost from the first whistle, which is understandable considering what happened a week ago, and it is up to Liverpool to find a way to break them down.

Results elsewhere mean that, as things stand, Liverpool will lose top spot in Group E, so tonight's game is approaching a must-win for Klopp's side.

You'd have to think that Sevilla and Spartak Moscow will both beat Maribor in the second round of fixtures, so a draw for Liverpool would very much be two dropped points - something they cannot really afford in such a tight group.

KICKOFF: Liverpool get us back underway for the second half at Anfield - can they find a way through in the coming 45?

Important defending from Suler as he nicks the ball away from Salah just when it looked like the winger might race away.

Liverpool have the breakthrough! Just four minutes into the second half, Mohamed Salah finally breaks the deadlock for his 10th goal of the season!

Alexander-Arnold whips the delivery in from the right flank, where most of Liverpool's best work has come from tonight, and Salah darts in front of his man to flick a tidy finish past the keeper.

UPDATE: Suddenly it is all looking rosy for the English clubs as Manchester City have turned things around against Napoli, with John Stones joining his centre-back partner Otamendi on the scoresheet.

Liverpool miss their second penalty in a week, and that is now four spot kicks from four missed at Anfield this calendar year!

Milner was so deadly from the spot last season, but this time he sees his powerful low penalty brilliantly turned onto the post by Handanovic. The penalty itself was not terrible, it was just a really good stop from the keeper.

SHOT! Liverpool are pushing for a second here and Oxlade-Chamberlain exchanges passes with Salah before curling one over the crossbar.

CHANCE! Handanovic is keeping his side in this game! The ball breaks to Firmino from a corner and the Brazilian turns it towards goal from a tight angle, but Handanovic spreads himself really well to make a fine save.

CHANCE! Could this be another night Liverpool are made to rue missed chances? This is verging on a sitter for Salah, who puts his header over the crossbar from very close range when he simply had to score.

CHANCES! A couple of warning shots in quick succession for Liverpool as first Klavan is needed to make a big challenge on Mesanovic inside the box before Billong plants a header from the resulting corner wide of the target.

MARIBOR SUB: Change for the visitors, and one which suggests that haven't given up hope here. Marcos Tavares replaces Mesanovic on the hour mark.

SHOT! Alexander-Arnold is already beginning to build a reputation as a free kick taker, and he isn't a million miles away here as he fires a 30-yard effort off target.

UPDATE: Tottenham now lead Real Madrid 2-0 at Wembley courtesy of a second from Alli, while APOEL have levelled things up against Dortmund in Germany too.

There has also been another goal in the other Group E clash, with Sevilla doubling their lead against Spartak Moscow.

SHOT! Maribor make a rare foray into the Liverpool half and Milec tries his luck, but his strike is always rising and does not trouble Karius.

Liverpool have their second, and this one is a goal of real quality. Can picks up the ball and plays it into the feet of Milner, who lays it back to the German with a delightful touch.

Can races on to the return ball and immediately tucks a confident finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the box, and that should be game over now.

SAVE! This one is shaping up to be similar to Liverpool's win over Huddersfield at the weekend, and they go in search of a third as Salah sees his strike deflected into the arms of the keeper.

UPDATE: More goals from elsewhere to tell you about, with Spurs now incredibly leading Real Madrid 3-0 as Eriksen has got in on the act. Napoli have also equalised against Man City, while Porto lead Leipzig 2-1.

Almost a chance for the visitors as Milec skips past Matip far too easily before lifting a cross to the back post for Bohar. It is a really good position for the visitors, but Bohar wastes it with an errant pass.

MARIBOR SUB: That is Bohar's last action as he is replaced straight away.

SAVE! Karius is called into action for the first time tonight, with a corner only being cleared as far as Milec, whose powerful low strike is parried away by the Liverpool keeper.

SAVE! Liverpool are quickly up the other end and the ball breaks to Salah inside the box, but his subsequent effort is tame and easy for Handanovic to collect.

Maribor will go on to lose this game, but they can be proud of their performance tonight. They have applied themselves infinitely better than they did a fortnight ago.

SHOT! Alexander-Arnold turns his way into a shooting position, but drags his effort comfortably wide of the target.

LIVERPOOL SUB: Change for the hosts here as Daniel Sturridge replaces Salah, who departs to a standing ovation.

UPDATE: History has been made in Naples! Sergio Aguero has become Man City's leading goalscorer of all time to give them a 3-2 lead against Napoli!

UPDATE: Liverpool are in control here and appear to have wrapped things up, but it may be a more nervous final 10 minutes or so for Sevilla - they have just been pegged back by Spartak Moscow in Group E's other match tonight.

Liverpool are patiently knocking the ball amongst themselves at the moment as they manage this game heading into the final 10 minutes. This has been harder work than many might have expected tonight, but they look like picking up the all-important win.

MARIBOR SUB: A third and final change for Maribor sees Valon Ahmedi replace Hotic.

Liverpool are lining up a final change of their own, with Grujic warming up on the sidelines. A good chance for Klopp to hand more game time to one of his fringe players.

LIVERPOOL SUB: Sure enough, there is the change as Marko Grujic replaces Firmino for his debut in the Champions League proper.

UPDATE: Real Madrid have got a goal back at Wembley through Cristiano Ronaldo, but it looks like being too little too late for the European champions.

Liverpool have a late third, and it is a first Champions League goal in almost seven years for Daniel Sturridge!

A corner is played short and Moreno whips his subsequent delivery into the box which is only flicked on to the back post by a defender. Sturridge is waiting there unmarked, and he controls the ball before firing it past the keeper.

There will be three minutes of added time at the end of this match.

It wasn't quite the goalfest of matchday three, then, but Liverpool get the job done and ultimately a 3-0 victory is a fair reflection of their dominance in this match as they move one point clear at the top of Group E.

After a difficult first half in which Liverpool failed to score, they began to create more in the second 45 minutes and goals from Mohamed Salah, Emre Can and Daniel Sturridge ultimately handed them a comfortable win despite Milner also missing a penalty.

Right, that is all we have time for this evening!

Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's match as Liverpool make it back-to-back Champions League wins to take control of Group E. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!