Good evening! Thank you very much for joining
Sports Mole for tonight's
Champions League Group E contest as
Maribor host Liverpool at the Ljudski vrt Stadium in Slovenia!
Both of these sides are still searching for their first win of the campaign proper having needed qualifying to reach the group stages, but it is Liverpool who will head into tonight's match as favourites despite Maribor boasting the home advantage.
It promises to be a pivotal night for the Reds' hopes of reaching the last 16, so let's waste no time in getting to the team news...
LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Karius; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Lovren, Moreno; Milner, Wijnaldum, Can; Salah, Coutinho, Firmino
LIVERPOOL SUBS: Mignolet, Gomez, Klavan, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Solanke, Sturridge
MARIBOR STARTING XI: Handanovic; Suler, Bohar, Viler, Milec; Rajcevic, Ahmedi, Kabha, Vrhovec; Kramaric, Tavares
MARIBOR SUBS: Billong, Pihler, Hotic, Vrsic, Mesanovic, Palcic, Obradovic
What can we make of those two teams, then?
Well, we'll get onto Liverpool in a moment but first let's have a brief look at the Maribor starting XI as manager Darko Milanic makes just two changes from the side that was beaten 3-0 by Sevilla in their last Champions League outings. Those switches see Suler and Kramaric come into the lineup, while Billong and Pihler drop to the bench.
There are five changes from the weekend win over Rudar, though, with Pihler and Billong again dropping out alongside Inbrum, Mesanovic and Luka Zahovic - the latter of whom is son of arguably the most famous name in Slovenian football Zlatko.
Mesanovic may feel slightly hard done by to miss out having scored at the weekend, but Brazilian striker Marcos Tavares was always expected to come back into the side and sure enough he does tonight. Ahmedi, Suler, Kramaric and Kabha are the other four players to return having been left out at the weekend.
As for Liverpool,
Jurgen Klopp promised to name a strong team for this one and he has kept to his word, particularly in the attacking areas.
Philippe Coutinho, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino all start against for Liverpool having also played at the weekend against Manchester United, with the injured Sadio Mane the only major absentee from Liverpool's forward players tonight. Dominic Solanke and Daniel Sturridge provide the firepower off the bench.
Interestingly, captain Jordan Henderson is also rested for the Reds this evening, being replaced in the middle of the park by James Milner, who is given a rare start this season.
Milner, of course, spent the majority of last season playing at left-back, but Alberto Moreno's rejuvenated form in that position has seen him revert to midfield - although that has also severely limited his game time so far. Milner is such a reliable player, though, and he will be desperate to take this chance tonight.
Henderson may have dropped out, but Georginio Wijnaldum and Emre Can retain their places in the three-man midfield for Liverpool tonight, which means
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain must settle for a place on the bench once again.
The deadline-day signing has not started in the Premier League or Champions League for Liverpool yet, and his chances will surely only become more limited once the likes of Adam Lallana and Sadio Mane return from injury. The former Arsenal man is having to be very patient so far.
The only other outfield change aside from Henderson from Saturday's stalemate with United comes at right-back, where
Trent Alexander-Arnold starts ahead of Gomez.
Gomez was available for this match having served a one-game ban against Spartak Moscow in Liverpool's last Champions League game, but having also featured against Manchester United Klopp has decided to rotate his full-back again tonight. Clyne remains sidelined which is why the question arises in the first place, but Alexander-Arnold has shown a lot of promise so far and will have another chance to shine tonight.
There is also a change in goal for Liverpool tonight, and it is one we knew was coming as Loris Karius starts ahead of Simon Mignolet.
Klopp has settled on Karius as his Champions League keeper so far this season, with the 24-year-old starting all three group games so far, but Karius has also expressed his desire to impress enough to become the first choice in the Premier League too. However, he has conceded three goals from the four shots on target he has faced in the Champions League this term, so he has work to do.
© Offside
There are three changes in total from the draw with Manchester United, then, but only two from the matchday two draw against Spartak Moscow as Henderson and Mane are replaced by Milner and Wijnaldum.
Matip and Lovren both start at the heart of the defence once again - as they did against United and Moscow - while Moreno continues at left-back, where he has re-established himself as first choice at Anfield.
It is a Liverpool side missing some key players tonight - namely Mane, Clyne and Lallana - but they will still head into this match as heavy favourites to pick up their first three-point haul of the Champions League group stages.
For Maribor, anything other than defeat against the five-time champions of Europe would have to go down as a very good result. Their European pedigree cannot come anything close to Liverpool's with this just their third appearance in the group stages of the Champions League.
Not only have Maribor never reached the knockout stages of this competition from their two previous appearances in the group stages, they have also never won a Champions League group game in front of their own fans - a record not many will be expecting to end tonight.
From seven previous home games in the competition proper, Maribor have picked up just three points from a possible 21, although that does include a draw at home to Chelsea in their last group-stage campaign before this season.
Maribor's wider European home record looks a lot more impressive, with just one defeat from their last 11 Champions League outings in front of their own fans if you include qualifiers, and no defeats from their last eight European home games overall.
When it comes to the higher level of competition which takes place in the group stages, though, the Slovenian champions fall short. Indeed, last season they didn't even make it into Europe proper, bowing out in the playoffs of the Europa League.
They did, however, win their sixth Slovenian title in the space of seven years to put themselves back in the running for Champions League football this season, and despite entering in the second qualifying round they have made it all the way to the group stages.
Maribor overcame opposition from Bosnia, Iceland and Israel to book their place in the competition proper, but their wait for a Champions League group-stage win now stretches to 13 matches following a draw with Spartak Moscow and heavy defeat to Sevilla so far.
Indeed, Maribor have only ever won one of their previous 14 Champions League group games, and that came in their first ever appearance on the scene when they overcame Dynamo Kiev in September 1999, more than 18 years ago.
In all of that time the Slovenian champions have never scored more than a single goal in a game either, although including qualifiers and the Europa League they do at least come into this match having lost just three of their last 14 European outings.
As I have already alluded to, Maribor have been the dominant force in Slovenian football for some time now, but they have some catching up to do already this season, despite starting the domestic campaign in unbeaten fashion.
Darko Milanic's side find themselves two points adrift of leaders Olimpija Ljubljana after 12 games of the campaign, and with only top spot having the chance to qualify for the Champions League next season they will know that second place is not good enough by their recent standards.
Slovenia are already playing their 22nd match of the season across all competitions tonight, and so far they have lost just twice - although both defeats have come in the Champions League.
Aside from losses to Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the playoffs and Sevilla in their most recent European outing, Maribor have won 13 and drawn six matches this season, while the loss to Sevilla is their only defeat in their last 11 matches. In the league alone they are four points better off than at the same stage last season and, including the tail end of the 2016-17 campaign, are unbeaten in 14.
The hosts are a team in the habit of winning, then, which is more than can be said for Liverpool right now.
There has not been a great deal wrong with Liverpool's all-round performances in recent weeks, but they have failed to make the most of their possession on numerous occasions to leave them with just one win from their last eight matches across all competitions - a run which includes three consecutive draws heading into tonight's match.
The most recent of those was the stalemate against bitter rivals Manchester United on Saturday, when Jose Mourinho once again brought his defensive tactics to Anfield and came away with a point.
The result leaves the Reds eighth in the Premier League table and, while just two points separate them from the top four, they are now nine points adrift of in-form Manchester City and their title hopes are already fading badly with just eight games of the new Premier League season having gone.
That tale of frustration has been a similar story in the Champions League for Liverpool so far, where they have just two points to their names following draws at home to Sevilla and away to Spartak Moscow.
Liverpool should have six points on the board already considering how much they have dominated both of those games, but despite having 29 more shots than their opponents in those outings - 17 against Sevilla and 12 against Spartak - they have failed to win either.
Liverpool's defence has frequently been questioned this season - and for good reason - but the attack must take some of the blame for their recent poor form having failed to make the most of plenty of chances during that time.
Having said that, the aforementioned stat of Liverpool conceding three goals from just four shots on target in the Champions League proper so far this season is pretty damning, and the lack of chances put away would not have been highlighted so much if Liverpool didn't have such a penchant for shooting themselves in the foot at the other end of the field.
The defence it certainly not a new problem, though. You have to go back to November 2009 for Liverpool's last Champions League clean sheet, which came against Debrecen in the group stages. That is a wait of nine games - 11 if you include qualifiers too.
That triumph over Debrecen was also Liverpool's most recent away win in the Champions League proper, and their only triumph in eight attempts since beating Real Madrid of all teams at the Bernabeu in February 2009.
Home and away, Liverpool are now winless in their last seven matches in the Champions League group stages, which is their worst ever run in the competition.
That streak includes three defeats and four consecutive draws heading into this match, and Liverpool will know that a failure to end that run this evening - coupled with a victory for Sevilla in Moscow - would leave them with a mountain to climb in order to claim top spot in Group E and potentially an easier draw should they make it into the last 16.
However, Liverpool have won only two of their last 14 European away games, drawing seven and losing five of those including qualifiers. The playoff victory over Hoffenheim was their first on the road in Europe since November 2015, although it is worth remembering that they were not involved in continental competition last season.
Indeed, Liverpool are in the group stages of the Champions League for only the second time in the last eight seasons this term, and have not reached the knockout stages since 2008-09, so perhaps we should not be so surprised that they have made a relatively slow start.
PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes away from kickoff in Slovenia, which means that it is about time I made a prediction!
Liverpool have not been in great form heading into this one, but simply put they have the better players and should have enough about them to come away with a win tonight. Maribor may try to stifle the Reds as a few teams have successfully managed to do in recent weeks, but we're backing an away win.
SPORTS MOLE SAYS: Maribor 0-2 Liverpool
This is the first ever meeting between these two sides, and only the second tie Liverpool have ever had against Slovenian opposition.
The first of those came in the opening round of the 2003-04 UEFA Cup, when Liverpool could only manage a 1-1 draw in Slovenia against Olimpija Ljubljana. The Reds did pick up a 3-0 victory in the return leg at Anfield to progress, but they are looking for their first win on Slovenian soil tonight.
Maribor's own record at home against English clubs is surprisingly good too, with just one defeat from the previous four occasions they have welcome Premier League clubs to their stadium.
Just one of those has come in the Champions League, and that turned out to be a successful night for Maribor as they earned a 1-1 draw against Chelsea having lost the reverse leg 6-0 at Stamford Bridge.
home or away Maribor have only won one of their eight matches against English opposition across all competitions, though, with two draws and five defeats in that time.
The solitary triumph was a 2-1 win over Wigan Athletic in the 2013-14 Europa League group stages, and they have never kept a clean sheet against an English club in this eight previous meetings.
Right, the players are out on the field and we're just about ready to go for this match in Slovenia. A reminder of the team news before we get underway...
MARIBOR STARTING XI: Handanovic; Suler, Bohar, Viler, Milec; Rajcevic, Ahmedi, Kabha, Vrhovec; Kramaric, Tavares
LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Karius; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Lovren, Moreno; Milner, Wijnaldum, Can; Salah, Coutinho, Firmino
KICKOFF: Here we go then! Liverpool's search for a first Champions League win of the season continues in Slovenia as
Jurgen Klopp's side get us underway.
This is only a small stadium, but the home fans are making plenty of noise in the opening exchanges here. They are delighted to have a team the calibre of Liverpool here, but that does not mean that they will be overawed by the occasion.
GOAL! Maribor 0-1 Liverpool (Roberto Firmino)
Exactly what Liverpool would have wanted as they make a perfect start to the match with a goal inside four minutes!
Salah beats Suler to the ball down the right flank and that sees him flying clean through on goal down the channel. Firmino is in support through the middle and it is a simple enough pass for Salah to pick the Brazilian out, who is left with an even easier finish.
Liverpool had conceded the opening goal in both of their Champions League matches before tonight, so to get the breakthrough themselves will be a big relief.
It could be a long night for Maribor.
SAVE! Liverpool are pushing for a quickfire second and Milner cuts inside onto his left foot before drawing a low stop from the keeper, who does well to hold on to it.
The first questions are asked of the Liverpool defence as Maribor come forward, but Vrhovec slices a wild effort over the crossbar from 25 yards out.
UPDATE: So far so good for two English teams in action tonight, as Manchester City have taken the lead against Napoli through Liverpool old boy Raheem Sterling too.
Elsewhere, Feyenoord lead Shakhtar Donetsk and RB Leipzig are ahead against Porto.
Liverpool are in control of this match as it stands, but they will want a second goal to give themselves a cushion. They have been stung too many times already this season to think that a 1-0 lead is a safe one.
GOAL! Maribor 0-2 Liverpool (Philippe Coutinho)
Liverpool have their second of the night after all, and it is Philippe Coutinho who nets for a fourth away game in a row.
It is a really nice move from the visitors as Firmino gives it out to Milner, who pulls a clever cross back into the box. Coutinho meets it with a scuffed finish, but it is crucially on target and nestles into the bottom corner.
CHANCE! It should be three for Liverpool, who are creating chances at will here. Again Milner is involved as his cross finds Firmino, who just can't get enough on his flick to steer it home.
SHOT! The one-way traffic continues, and it is Moreno who is the latest to threaten with a powerful effort which slams into the side-netting.
UPDATE: Napoli have won every single match in Serie A so far this season, but even they cannot stop a rampant Manchester City at the moment. Gabriel Jesus has made it 2-0 to Pep Guardiola's side at the Etihad.
Liverpool just ask the question of handball as it deflects up and bounces against the hand of a defender, but it would have been a harsh one.
GOAL! Maribor 0-3 Liverpool (Mohamed Salah)
Liverpool are rampant here. They have a third after just 20 minutes as Mohamed Salah gets in on the act, once again linking up with Firmino as the Brazilian this time turns provider.
His clever pass inside the full-back releases Salah in the area and he has time to take a touch before stroking his finish past the keeper from close range. This could be a cricket score if things carry on like this.
UPDATE: As if being 3-0 up away from home after 20 minutes was not good enough, there is more good news for Liverpool as Spartak Moscow have taken the lead against Sevilla through Quincy Promes.
As things stand, then, Liverpool will be heading to the top of Group E tonight.
Alexander-Arnold sends in a peach of a low cross which flies right across the face of goal, but there are no Liverpool players there to tap it in at the back post. A fourth does not look too far away.
A worrying statistic for Maribor. I wouldn't put it past Liverpool equalling that Besiktas win the way this one has started...
SAVE! Coutinho plays the ball forward for Salah, who hooks a speculative effort towards goal from a tight angle which the keeper collects at the near post. Moments later Salah has the ball in the back of the net again, but this time the flag is up.
SAVE! Better from Maribor as they threaten Karius for the first time tonight. Viler collects the ball down the left channel before cutting inside onto his right and drilling a low strike towards the near post which the Liverpool keeper gets down well to save.
UPDATE: Liverpool and Manchester City are both on for impressive victories, but Spurs may be about to outshine them both. They have taken the lead against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu through a Raphael Varane own goal.
Maribor have managed to stem the tide a little in the past 10 minutes or so, but Liverpool are still in complete control of this match are are stroking the ball about at their own pace at the moment
SAVE! Handanovic is called into action again here, and he isn't entirely convincing as he spills Salah's effort from just outside the area. There are no Liverpool players following in to take advantage, though.
UPDATE: Sevilla have equalised in Group E's other fixture this evening, with Simon Kjaer levelling things up. Elsewhere, Monaco now lead Besiktas 1-0.
Ten minutes left of this first half, then, and the match has been over as a contest since the 20th minute. Maribor are looking a lot sturdier now, but they have been in damage limitation mode since that third goal flew in.
There have been a lot of good performances from Liverpool already tonight, but James Milner in particular is impressing. He is playing on the right of the midfield three and has got himself into a lot of good position down that flank. He is putting his case forward tonight!
SAVE! Magical footwork from Coutinho, who manages to dribble past two players in a crowded area before seeing his eventual shot deflected into the arms of the keeper.
SAVE! Another save for Karius to make at the other end, but it is as routine as it gets for the keeper as he scoops up a tame long-range effort from Kabha.
GOAL! Maribor 0-4 Liverpool (Mohamed Salah)
Firmino and Salah have combined for two goals already tonight, but they battle each other to put this one away!
Moreno is the creator, reaching the byline down the left flank before pulling a low ball across the face of goal. Both Firmino and Salah are left waiting for the simplest of finishes, and it isn't quite clear who gets the final touch. Salah is being given the credit at the moment, though!
Liverpool had taken their foot off the pedal for a bit before that fourth goal, but there are plenty more available for them if they want more tonight.
CHANCE! Maribor could - and perhaps should - have one back here as Ahmedi's free kick from deep finds an unmarked Suler in the box. The defender storms in front of Wijnaldum, but plants his header wide when he really should have done better.
CHANCE! Back at the other end, and Liverpool have another chance of their own in this action-packed contest. Firmino is slipped in inside the box, but his low strike across the face of goal bobbles narrowly wide of the far post.
CHANCE! Yet another chance for the visitors as Coutinho cuts inside onto his right foot before drawing a save from the keeper. The parry is sufficient enough that Firmino cannot turn home the rebound either.
YELLOW CARD! Maribor's Milec is the first player in the book this evening for a trip on Coutinho.
HALF TIME: Maribor 0-4 Liverpool
Well, it has been a frustrating period for Liverpool in recent months, but they have certainly got rid of a lot of that in the first half here!
This one is over as a contest and has been since the 20th minute, with Liverpool racing into a 3-0 lead before adding a fourth late in the half. It has been an irresistible display from Jurgen Klopp's side, and they are by no means finished yet.
Having conceded the first goal in both of their Champions League matches prior to tonight, the early goal would have come as a big relief to Liverpool when it arrived after less than four minutes.
Salah pounced on an underhit pass down the right flank to beat Suler to the ball and lay it across for Firmino, who tucked it into an unguarded net from close range to get Liverpool off to a perfect start.
One quickly became two when Philippe Coutinho doubled Liverpool's advantage in the 13th minute, scuffing his finish into the bottom corner after good work from James Milner down the right flank.
A third arrived after just 20 minutes too, as Firmino and Salah reversed their roles from the first goal with the Brazilian playing in the speedy winger, who calmly stroked the ball past the keeper from inside the area.
Liverpool did take their foot off the pedal a little after that third goal, but a fourth did come six minutes before half time, with Salah seemingly getting the final touch from close range.
Moreno's low ball across the face of goal left Firmino and Salah both queuing up to put it in, and the latter looked like he just about beat his teammate to the punch.
KICKOFF: Maribor get is back underway for this second half and Liverpool are immediately on the front foot again, winning a corner inside 17 seconds.
SHOT! The corner ends up falling at the feet of Moreno around 25 yards from goal, but his low drive ends up comfortably wide of the target.
Liverpool fans will want to see their side push on in this second half, even with the prospect of Tottenham Hotspur to come at the weekend. I would expect Liverpool to make changes to key players sooner rather than later, though.
Liverpool are just swarming all over Maribor at the moment. The visitors have the bit between their teeth and Maribor will be counting the seconds down until the final whistle.
Almost a chance for Liverpool to grab a fifth as Handanovic makes a mess of a high ball into the box. Lovren puts his head where it hurts, but the referee chooses against penalising the defender for a high foot. Klopp is not happy with that one!
CHANCE! Yet another chance for the visitors, this time down the left channel as Firmino bursts forward. His low ball across goal is towards Wijnaldum, but while the Dutch midfielder gets something on it, there was just a bit too much pace on the pass.
SAVE! Liverpool win a free kick very much in Coutinho range, and he fires a fine effort towards goal which Handanovic does well to get across and save.
GOAL! Maribor 0-5 Liverpool (Roberto Firmino)
Liverpool have their fifth, and it is a second (third?) of the night for Roberto Firmino.
Salah is still being credited with the second, but that may well be a hat-trick goal for Firmino as he produces a deft finish to glance a backward header into the far corner from Coutinho's free kick.
Liverpool have their sights set on history now - this is already equal their biggest ever European away win and they go in search of a sixth as Coutinho's shot deflects behind for a corner.
LIVERPOOL SUB: Time for Klopp to start looking towards Sunday, and there will be no hat-trick for Salah as he makes way to be replaced by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
CHANCE! Almost an immediate impact from Oxlade-Chamberlain too as he gets on the end of Moreno's cross but cannot steer his volley on target.
MARIBOR SUBS: Double change for the home side as Aleks Pihler and Dino Hotic replace Kramaric and Ahmedi.
Still half an hour to go in this one for Maribor, who will be desperate for the final whistle. They have been so comfortably second best from the very first whistle tonight.
While the Maribor players will not come out of this match with any praise, their fans do deserve credit. They have not stopped singing despite the convincing nature of Liverpool's performance here.
UPDATE: Spartak Moscow have regained their lead against Sevilla in Russia, which means that Liverpool are heading to the top of Group E as things stand.
Elsewhere, Shakhtar Donetsk now lead Feyenoord, Besiktas are 2-1 up against Monaco, RB Leipzig lead Porto 3-2 and Real Madrid have levelled things up against Tottenham.
Almost a chance for Maribor, who have had the odd opportunity tonight. They have never looked like getting anything from this match, but Liverpool's defence has not looked entirely convincing again.
LIVERPOOL SUB: Liverpool make their second change of the night as Firmino is replaced by Daniel Sturridge.
Karius needs to be alert here as he races out of his area to sweep up a through-ball. Good, decisive goalkeeper from Karius there.
UPDATE: Yet more good news for Liverpool as Spartak Moscow have taken a 3-1 lead over Sevilla - suddenly Liverpool's 1-1 draw in Moscow does not look too bad.
Elsewhere Borussia Dortmund had fallen behind against APOEL, but they have since levelled things up in Tottenham's group.
This match has been in a bit of a lull since the fifth Liverpool goal, with the withdrawals of Salah and Firmino just limiting Liverpool's attacking threat a little.
LIVERPOOL SUB: Liverpool make their third and final change, and it is one that means Coutinho will play the full 90 minutes tonight. Dominic Solanke comes on in place of Wijnaldum.
SAVE! Oxlade-Chamberlain could do with a goal to improve his confidence, but he is denied by Handanovic here. The Maribor keeper is initially at fault when he gives the ball away with a terrible clearance, and Oxlade-Chamberlain powers past his marker before drilling a low strike straight at the keeper.
UPDATE: There could be a nervy finale for Manchester City, who have seen their lead against Napoli halved at the Etihad Stadium.
Almost another chance for Liverpool as Milner makes great progress down the right flank. He beats three defenders to reach the byline before standing a cross up to the back post, but Coutinho cannot smuggle the ball in from a tight angle.
YELLOW CARD! Vrhovec is the second player in the book tonight for a shirt tug on Coutinho.
MARIBOR SUB: A third and final change for the hosts sees Jasmin Mesanovic replace Bohar.
UPDATE: It is turning into a very bad night for Sevilla, who are now 4-1 down against Spartak Moscow. Group E will look very interesting after tonight!
SHOT! Moreno has had plenty of chances to get forward tonight, and he has enjoyed himself. He collects the ball inside the area here, but slices his effort well over.
GOAL! Maribor 0-6 Liverpool (Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain)
Liverpool do have their sixth goal of the evening, and it is a first in Liverpool colours for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
It is another error from the hosts as Suler gives the ball away, and Sturridge picks it up before threaded a nice weighted pass into the path of Oxlade-Chamberlain. That sends the midfield through on goal, and he makes no mistake with his finish.
YELLOW CARD! Hotic picks up a late yellow card for an aerial challenge on Can.
GOAL! Maribor 0-7 Liverpool (Trent Alexander-Arnold)
Liverpool are in seventh heaven! They add another in the final minute of normal time as Alexander-Arnold's strike deflects off the hapless Suler and past the keeper.
FULL TIME: Maribor 0-7 Liverpool
In truth, Liverpool have been threatening to do that to a team for some time, and Maribor are the unlucky victims tonight.
The Slovenian hosts were poor and did not help themselves at all tonight, but take nothing away from a rampant Liverpool performance as they set a new British record for the biggest ever away win in the Champions League. Roberto Firmino (2), Philippe Coutinho, Mohamed Salah (2), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Trent Alexander-Arnold were all on the scoresheet for the visitors on a record-breaking and memorable night in Maribor.
Right, that is all we have time for this evening!
Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's Champions League clash as a record-breaking Liverpool display sees them fire seven past Maribor on their way to the top 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!
