Liverpool took control of their Champions League group with a routine win over Maribor.

Another dire first half had suggested the Reds were to make hard work of their Slovenian opponents, who they trounced 7-0 in the corresponding fixture.

However Mohamed Salah came to the rescue when he flicked Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross past Jasmin Handanovic just minutes after the interval.

James Milner had the opportunity to double their lead when Roberto Firmino was hauled down in the box but saw his effort saved by the Maribor stopper.

But that penalty miss did not haunt the hosts as Emre Can doubled his side’s advantage following a superb passing move with Milner on the edge of the box.

Daniel Sturridge then made the scoreline a more comfortable one with his finish late one.

Here were the key talking points from Anfield:

Anfield’s first half woes continue

 

Despite beating Huddersfield comfortably last weekend, there were still plenty of negatives to be taken from Liverpool’s latest Anfield outing.

Chief among them was the manner of their first-half performance.

Those 45 minutes against the Terriers had seen Jurgen Klopp’s side play below their level, with poor passing, touches and a general lack of quality throughout.

It was much the same against Maribor as the home fans were treated to yet another boring and listless opening 45 minutes of football.

Fortunately, just as it was against Huddersfield, a better second half showing meant the disappointment of the first half was swiftly forgotten.

However, it would be foolish for Liverpool to consistently start relying on second-half showings to save games. Better sides will begin to punish them if they do.

What’s Robertson got to do?

 

It remains a mystery exactly why Liverpool bought Andy Robertson this summer.

He is yet to get a sniff of a chance at making the left-back spot his own with Alberto Moreno’s resurgence seeing him perennially pushed to one side.

Maribor should have been the prefect opportunity for the Scotland international to be handed much-needed game time in only his fourth outing this season.

Instead, Klopp persisted with Moreno in defence and left the £8 million arrival on the bench sitting on the bench once again.

That odd decision raises questions about Robertson’s Anfield future once again.

Chamberlain fails to impress

 

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is another of Liverpool’s summer signings who will have been frustrated with his lack of playing time so far.

The England international found himself among the substitutes for much of the campaign, a situation he will have hoped was left behind in his Arsenal days.

A starring role against Maribor was his golden opportunity to prove why that situation should change. Unfortunately, he did little to convince his manager.

While lively and showed some good touches, Chamberlain did not do enough to show he should be starting ahead of Sadio Mane or Philippe Coutinho, when fit.

It is likely the 24-year-old will look back on this game as a huge chanced missed to set down a marker against his current standing in the squad.

Spot kicks becoming a struggle

 

Fortunately for James Milner, his missed penalty did not end up costing Liverpool.

Yet there is no escaping the fact that they have a problem when it comes to the small matter of the 12-yard challenge, especially in front of the Anfield crowd.

Milner’s missed effort was their second inside a week, a fourth in a row at Anfield as well as their fifth in the entirety of the current calendar year.

A team that cannot take penalties may be more of a problem for international managers than club ones but it is an issue that will worry Klopp nonetheless.

The German wants his team to be superior in all areas and this is one they are sorely lacking in.