UEFA CL: Chamberlain's Brace, Mane's Clip and Salah's Slide torments Genk in Group E; Genk 1 - 4 Liverpool

Liverpool registered their second win in this season’s UEFA Champions League thanks to Oxlade-Chamberlain's outstanding double, with Mané and Salah adding gloss before a deserved consolation from Odey. The Reds now have a three-point buffer on third-placed Salzburg.

 

 

Oxlade-Chamberlain on his first Champions League appearance in a year and a half gave the visitors the lead with a stunning strike into the bottom corner. Fabinho drove a pass to his feet and the midfielder, who had found a decent pocket of space 20 metres from goal, drilled it low across Coucke.

 

 

Liverpool progressively controlled the game with their passing game cautiously exchanging trade from the back towards attack.

Genk caught Liverpool on the break with a searching ball over the top. With Keita and Robertson tracking back, Samatta pulled a left footed strike wide of the far post from the edge of the box.

The homeside looked dangerous anytime they were on the offensive against the Reds. They relied more on the crosses, which seem to be a great solution to get them back in the game.

 

 

Andre Robertson in the 31-minute got played in down the left of the area by Mane after making a surging forward run. The full back looked to fire the ball inside the near post but Coucke was well positioned to parry the shot to safety.

Liverpool as at the 36-minute recorded over 70 per cent possession in the whole half hour yet Genk created some good chances with their 30 per cent. Keïta really showed some neat touches on the night. His ball distribution was admirable as his pace upfront was involving.

 

 

Chamberlain registered his second goal on the night in the 57-minute.

 

 

Firmino latched on to Keïta's pass in the area and laid it back to an under-pressure Oxlade-Chamberlain, who somehow produced a curling finish with the outside of his right boot as the ball flew in off the underside of the bar.

Gomez was introduced in the game for Andrew Robertson in the 63-minute before Salah provided the assist for Sadio Mane to score Liverpool’s third.

Firmino's reverse pass found Salah in space and he turned a cute pass past the last defender for Mané to run on to and clip over the onrushing Coucke. It was Liverpool’s front three at their best with an Intricate build-up play involving Firmino and Salah followed by a world-class finish from the Senegalese.

 

 

Genk put a lot of energy in the second half and were able to hurt the Liverpool defence a couple of times but the third broke their spirit, and they could find that much energy any more.

Mohamed Salah added a forth three minutes to full time after the Egyptian rolled his man from Mané's pass, nipped past Lucumí and slided his finish in off the far post.

 

 

Odey pulled a goal back for Genk in a minute later as consolation.

Ndongala created it with some neat footwork in the Liverpool area but Odey stayed calm and beat Alisson Becker after a slick turn.

It was a comfortable game in the end for Liverpool as they added another three points to their collection.