UEFA CL: Chamberlain's winner SOAR the Reds to top of Group; Liverpool 2 - 1 Genk

The Reds are on top of the Group with nine points after Napoli dropped points with Salzburg in Italy

UEFA CL: Chamberlain's winner SOAR the Reds to top of Group; Liverpool 2 - 1 Genk
Chamberlain celebrate after scoring the second goal at Anfield against Genk

Liverpool have climbed to the top of Group E after a 2-1 win over Genk at Anfield.

Oxlade Chamberlain scored in a second successive Champions League game after scoring twice two weeks ago in Belgium against same side in the first leg.

Fabinho was back in the line-up after missing out of the Aston Villa clash as Mane, Firmino and Robertson were benched.

Oxlade-Chamberlain appeared to be operating in a false nine role in the early stages. Origi started on the left with Salah on the right.

 

 

Liverpool did all the pressing in the early stages. Full-backs, Milner and Alexander-Arnold pushed high up the pitch, whiles Keïta and Wijnaldum joined in attacks whenever they could.

The Reds took the lead with the first serious effort on goal in the 14-minute after Milner was given time to fire in a low cross. Two deflections helped take the ball towards Wijnaldum, who prodded his finish into the roof of the net.

 

 

The pressing on Genk increased in their half as every outfield Liverpool player surged forward whenever there was a break. Keïta skipped down the left and was denied by the goalkeeper from a narrow angle. It was a deflection that took the ball back to the Liverpool midfielder and Genk had to dive in to stop a second effort heading for the net.

Salah was close to finding Liverpool’s second as he storms on to Milner's pass across the edge of the area. He was still at full pace in an attempt to find the far corner but just skewed it wide.

When the first half was almost about to end, Samatta responded with Genk’s equalizer.

 

 

The first sniff of goal for Genk but Samatta was denied as Alexander-Arnold poked it behind. The respite was only brief, though, as the forward planted a thumping header on the resulting corner and it flashed past Alisson Becker.

He was close to getting on the end of a teasing cross moments later, but Alexander-Arnold got a toe to the delivery.

Oxlade Chamberlain put the Reds infront eight minutes into the second half. It was a great ball received by Salah in the area and some sharp footwork ended with a pass to Oxlade-Chamberlain, who swiveled quickly and fired low across Coucke. Lovely turn from the Liverpool midfielder.

 

 

Liverpool dictated the game for the visitors and threatened them a couple of times but could not increase their tally.