NK Maribor 0-7 Liverpool

Liverpool recorded their biggest Champions League win in almost 10 years as they thrashed Slovenian side Maribor to go top of Group E.

The Reds dominated throughout, opening the scoring on four minutes when Roberto Firmino finished from close range after Mohamed Salah broke free down the right.

Philippe Coutinho made it 2-0 with a half-volley from James Milner's pull-back before Salah scored twice, finishing off passes from Firmino then Alberto Moreno as the Reds led 4-0 at half-time.

Firmino added a fifth with a flicked header from Coutinho's free-kick as the Reds claimed their biggest Champions League victory since an 8-0 home victory over Turkish side Besiktas on 6 November 2007.

Daniel Sturridge linked up with fellow substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for the latter to score his first goal for the club to make it 6-0, and Trent Alexander-Arnold sealed the rout with a deflected 30-yard strike.

The victory takes Liverpool level on points with Spartak Moscow, who defeated previous leaders Sevilla 5-1.
Relive Liverpool's win over Maribor as it happened

Wonderful Liverpool cruise to win
Liverpool had started their Champions League campaign with two draws - 2-2 at home against Sevilla and 1-1 at Spartak Moscow - but they never looked in danger of dropping points against a side second in Slovenia's First League.

Indeed it took Jurgen Klopp's side just four minutes to take the lead, with Firmino scoring for the first time in six Liverpool games after Salah's burst.

Milner, who started in place of club captain Jordan Henderson, set up Coutinho for Liverpool's second after 13 minutes to effectively finish things off.

It became a question of how many Liverpool would score against woefully outclassed opposition, and the Reds did not disappoint as they produced a wonderful, free-flowing performance.

Salah got his first of the night when he slotted past home goalkeeper Jasmin Handanovic, then claimed the fourth as he and Firmino bundled the ball in from close range after Moreno's low cross.

Milner, Firmino, Moreno, Salah and Coutinho also missed first-half chances, before Firmino scored his second of the evening with a glancing header from Coutinho's free-kick.

Second consecutive clean sheet for Liverpool
These two teams meet again in two weeks, and Liverpool will be confident of another easy win at Anfield.

Klopp's side had won only one of their past eight matches in all competitions before this confidence-building performance, and the German was able to give some of his squad players playing time in the second half.

Perhaps with one eye on the Reds' match at third-placed Tottenham on Sunday, Salah, Firmino and Georginio Wijnaldum were withdrawn to give Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sturridge and 20-year-old Dominic Solanke chances to impress.
Late on, Sturridge released Oxlade-Chamberlain and the England midfielder slotted past Handanovic for his first goal since his £35m move from Arsenal at the end of August.

There was still time for Alexander-Arnold to score only his second Liverpool goal with a deflected strike from long range to seal a perfect night for the visitors.

Their defence, which has conceded 12 goals in eight league games, has been heavily criticised this season, but this result means they have kept back-to-back clean sheets after a goalless draw against Manchester United on Saturday.

Klopp maintained his policy of using rotating his goalkeepers for Champions League matches, and Loris Karius comfortably saving a low shot from Mitja Viler before Marko Suler headed Maribor's only other chance wide.

Maribor, who have never won a home Champions League match, are bottom of the group with one point from three matches.

Man of the match - Roberto Firmino (Liverpool)

Reds on course for knockout stages for first time since 2009 - the stats

Maribor have won only one of their nine games against English opposition in all competitions (drew two, lost six) - a 2-1 win against Wigan Athletic in the 2013-14 Europa League group stages

Maribor have won only one of their 15 games in the Champions League group stages (drew five, lost nine) - a 1-0 victory over Dynamo Kiev in September 1999.

This is Liverpool's 10th Champions League campaign, and only their second appearance in the group stages in the past eight seasons. They have not reached the knockout stage of the competition since 2008-09.

Liverpool had won only one of their past eight away games in the Champions League before this match (drew four, lost three). The previous victory was a 1-0 success against Hungarian side Debrecen in November 2009.

This was only the seventh occasion that an English club had scored four first-half goals in a Champions League game.
'We got everything we deserved' - what they said
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain told BT Sport: "We started with the right intensity, the manager said it would be a tough game and we couldn't be complacent.
"Even at half-time he was pushing for us to do better and we got everything we deserved.
"We were very clinical and putting almost all of our chances away. It feels like we have a lot of goals in us, we create a lot of chances.

"This is a competitive team, we have had a few results that have not gone our way and I'm ready whenever I get an opportunity.

What's next?

Liverpool play in the Premier League at Wembley Stadium against Tottenham on Sunday, 22 October (16:00 BST), before a home game against Huddersfield on Saturday, 28 October (15:00 BST).

Liverpool and Maribor then play at Anfield in the next round of Champions League matches on Wednesday, 1 November (19:45 BST).

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