Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
The last time these two sides met just over a fortnight ago it was seventh heaven for Liverpool but quite simply a night to forget for Maribor as Jurgen Klopp’s men ran roughshod over the Slovenian champions with a win that took to the top of the group.
Tonight when the two sides do it all over again the aim for the Merseyside outfit will be to pick up another three points and solidify their place at the summit of Group E with two matches still remaining, not only that but with only a point separating the top three sides they can ill afford to not pick up maximum points.
Liverpool come into this game off the back a comfortable win over Huddersfield last weekend and it will not only be the fact that they have returned to winning ways which will have been pleasing to manager and fans alike it will have also been the fact that they kept a clean sheet.
After a shambles of a defensive performance again Tottenham in week 9 of the Premier League mainly by Croatian Dejan Lovren it would have come as some surprise that he was set to then start against Huddersfield only to then injury himself in the warm up.
Whether that turned out to be something of a positive omen I’m not too sure as Liverpool looked a much more solid unit then the one on display at Wembley, then again it could just have been the fact that behind close doors they were given something of a rocket from the manager.
Whether Lovren starts tonight remains to be seen as it is not just the injury that has to be factored it is also the unsavoury comments he has had to deal with on social media in relation to his performances, whether he is the right frame of mind to play will have to be assessed.
Midfielder Philippe Coutinho is a major doubt after he missed the Huddersfield game with a thigh injury, while full-backs Joe Gomez and Alberto Moreno will also be assessed. While Goalkeeper Loris Karius will continue in goal again in the competition, having started ahead of league regular Simon Mignolet in the previous three European matches.
After such a comfortable win away from home, Liverpool will go into this came as clear favourites. Their Champions League campaign has perhaps stuttered in the first two matches but the win over Maribor should signify that they have finally hit top gear.
With that in mind I cannot see anything other than a home win tonight, the ideal scenario will be that Spartak Moscow and Sevilla take points off of each other but ultimately Liverpool just need to worry about themselves and get maximum points, a task they should complete with relative ease.
