UEFA Champions League
NK Maribor V Liverpool FC
Tuesday October 17, 2017
Kick Off - 19:45
VENUE: Ljudski vrt
Managers -
NK Maribor: Darko Milanič
Liverpool FC: Jürgen Klopp
Form -
NK Maribor: DLWWD
Liverpool FC: DDWLD Game Three of Group E in the UEFA Champions League 2017. When the teams take the field and the Ref whistle blows for the kick off of this 90 minutes of battle on the football pitch between the Slovenian League Champions of last season (in fact they have won their league 6 times in the last 7 years) and Merseyside's favorite sons in red, the group table will look as follows:
1. Sevilla GD: +4 Pts: 4
2. Liverpool GD: +0 Pts: 2 (total goals scored 3, 3 conceded)
3. Spartak Moscow GD: +0 Pts: 2 (total goals scored 2, 2 conceded)
4. NK Maribor GD: -3 Pts: 2
While in their respective leagues the Slovenians sit second to Liverpool's seventh. This should not trouble the Red Men regardless of Saturday's outcome with Jose's United. We have never played these before so I expect this to be an excellent outing, with the local supporters wanting to put on a show for the big name out of town guests. Maribor will not be a push over, if anything they will be up for this game. The home side have not lost in their last eight at home European ties, winning 5 and drawing 3 and are in excellent from over all winning or drawing 11 of their last 14 matches over all. However they have only one win in their last eight attempts against English opposition, a club not too far away from Merseyside, Wigan Athletic back in 2013.
Klopp will be sure to have his lads ready and focused on the task at hand, winning our first match in Europe this season. A win is a must. A win is the least what is acceptable. A 1 nil win will suffice as it is away from home and after an important League match (all matches worth the same number of points and yet some are worth more, more than the potential 6 point swing in either direction). A win with a return to the devastating and awe inspiring attacking prowess seen earlier in the season and over the summer would be ideal in most supporters minds. But a win is what is more sought after. Oh and also a clean sheet, if you please Karius et al.
Both sides have a few injuries to contend with, notably for the Slovenians, Marko Suler is out with an ankle injury while Dare Vrsic is suffering from a thigh injury. Klopp will have to do without Sadio Mane who suffered a hamstring strain while on international duty (could be out for six weeks, try to calm your swelling anger, I know I am), in addition it seems that Joel Matip is joining Adam Lallana and Nathaniel Clyne in the physio's room as he has what is listed as an "unknown injury" as I write this. Also Joel Gomez is back from his one game suspension in European Football for the late Red against Seville. However Liverpool's attack is not stifled too much with Sadio's absence, as Salah is in great form, scoring twice over the break and ensuring that Egypt are qualified for the upcoming World Cup in Russia. Phil has scored in his last three appearances for the Reds, and Bobby should likely enjoy getting on the score sheet. Elsewhere during the international break, Henderson, Ox, and Can all got minutes with the big German scoring his first goal for his home country.
- Quotes -
"This is a decisive moment in the group - we need to be confident and brave we don't need to think about the last game. We play Maribor twice now. We've already wasted points so we have to be very good again it's an important moment." - Klopp
- Lineups -
LiverpoolFC: Karius, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Lovren, Moreno, Wijnaldum, Can, Milner, Salah, Firmino, Coutinho.
NK Maribor: Handanovic, Viler, Suler, Rajcevic, Milec, Vrohec, Kabha, Bohar, Ahmedi, Kramaric, Tavares.
- Officials -
Referee: Viktor Kassai (HUN)
Assistant referees: György Ring (HUN), Vencel Tóth (HUN)
Additional assistant referees: Tamás Bognar (HUN), Sandor Szabo (HUN)
Fourth official: Balázs Buzás (HUN)
