Manchester United last weekend, Tottenham away this weekend. Liverpool could probably have done without a 2,500-mile round-trip to Slovenia in the middle, but at least they get it out of the way early. Maribor are currently second in their domestic league, which they have won in six of the last seven seasons, and can’t be taken lightly even if they are currently at the foot of Group E with half of Liverpool’s two points. They have, after all, gone unbeaten in their last eight European home games (even if they have never won a home game in the Champions League). Liverpool, after consecutive irritating games-they-should’ve-won-but-didn’t, need points in the bank sharpish. Asked if he would make significant changes to the team, Jurgen Klopp raged: “No chance. This is the last place to do those things. This is a decisive moment in the group – we need to be confident and brave. We play Maribor twice now. We’ve already wasted points so we have to be very good again. It’s an important moment.”
And so, the stage is set for an evening of goals (surely), nerves (possibly) and a lot of names that end in the letter C. Welcome!
Liverpool FC
