Genk vs Liverpool LIVE result: Latest score and goal updates from the Champions League
The reigning champions were too good for Genk
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Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain announced his return to the Champions League after an 18-month absence with two goals in a 4-1 win in Genk.
The England international missed all but 20 minutes of last season with a serious knee injury sustained in the semi-final win over Roma in this competition in April 2018.
He made up for lost time by producing exactly the sort of performance manager Jurgen Klopp expects from him, driving forward from midfield and - more importantly - scoring.
His first was good, firing home from just outside the penalty area, but his second was sublime, flicking a first-time shot in off the crossbar.
Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah also scored - substitute Stephen Odey grabbed a late consolation for the hosts - as Liverpool recorded their first away win in the group stage in five matches and only their second in 10.
Coincidentally Oxlade-Chamberlain scored in the other success in that sequence, the 7-0 victory in Maribor in October in 2017.
Klopp doubled down on the offensive approach by selecting the attacking but previously untried option of Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita alongside Fabinho.
It was a midfield the masses on social media had been crying out for but what may be attractive in a virtual world really needs to be properly tested in the real one.
Less than two minutes in Klopp got his first indication as Fabinho slipped a sideways pass to Oxlade-Chamberlain who, under little pressure, coolly slotted a low, diagonal 20-yard shot inside the far post.
It was his first goal since he scored in the 3-0 quarter-final win over Manchester City in April 2018, of which this strike was reminiscent.
However, one of the drawbacks of such an attacking midfield is the lack of pressure on the ball and the space it can leave either side of Fabinho and that was evident in the first half where Genk could - and probably should - have scored at least once.
Two changes in defence, with midfielder James Milner and Dejan Lovren replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold (illness) and Joel Matip (knee), contributed to the lack of cohesion but the hosts missed the chance to take full advantage.
Boyhood Manchester United fan Ally Mbwana Samatta screwed a good chance wide under pressure from Keita and Milner's brilliant recovering, full-stretch tackle took the ball off the toes of Paul Onuachu after he too had raced clear.
Genk had the ball in the net midway through the half from Samatta's far-post header but after an interminable wait VAR upheld a late assistant referee's offside flag.
In keeping with the social media frenzy of the evening Twitter found a new cause celebre when Roberto Firmino's brilliant individual skill and vision saw him dink a five-yard rabona pass on the edge of the area which Mane fired straight at the goalkeeper.
Liverpool tightened things up slightly more in the second half but Salah, on his return to the side after an ankle injury, endured a frustrating time until his clever reverse-pass allowed Mane to clip the third over goalkeeper Gaetan Coucke.
That seemed to enliven the Egypt international and he brilliantly turned two tight markers in the penalty area to add the fourth.
But there was only one thing being talked about at the final whistle and that was the resurrection of Oxlade-Chamberlain after his serious knee injury.
He tends not to score ordinary goals and his nonchalant outside-of-the-right-foot effort which cannoned in off the crossbar earlier in the half to make it 2-0 was instinctively brilliant and technically perfect.
Odey ruined what would have been a perfect performance to give Genk the goal their first-half endeavours had threatened.
The defending champions have regained some of their swagger but remain a point behind Napoli, 3-2 winners over Salzburg, in Group E.
With a three-point cushion over the Austrian club and the return fixture against Genk to come next things are looking relatively comfortable for Klopp's side.
PA
Match preview:
When is it?
Kick-off is at 8pm BST on Wednesday 23rd October.
How can I watch it?
The match will be broadcast on BT Sport 2, with coverage beginning at 7pm.
Subscribers to BT Sport can watch the game online or on mobile via the BT Sport player and BT Sport app.
Team news
Mohamed Salah may be fit enough to feature in the game after missing the Manchester United draw with an ankle issue.
Jurgen Klopp could look to rest players ahead of this weekend’s game with Tottenham, which means there could be opportunities for James Milner and Adam Lallana to start, while Joe Gomez could come in at the back.
Genk U19 0-1 Liverpool U19
40 minutes
Cain goes into the book for a late challenge on Sierra just outside the box. Genk will have a free kick in a good position...
Genk U19 0-1 Liverpool U19
41 minutes
The free kick is fired in low and Ojrzynski, who sees it late, does well to parry away to his left. He's been forced into a few good saves in this first half.
Genk U19 0-1 Liverpool U19
43 minutes
Takidine does well on the right, cutting inside before slipping a clever pass into the path of Cuypers. Ojrzynski is out quickly again to get to the ball first.
Genk U19 0-1 Liverpool U19
45 minutes
There'll be two minutes of added time.
Genk U19 0-1 Liverpool U19
45+1 minutes
Cain does well to win the ball on the byline and cuts back for Jones, who sets himself and curls a shot towards the far corner. Vandevoordt's positioning is good, though, and he catches the ball comfortably.
Genk U19 0-1 Liverpool U19
45+2 minutes
Jones skilfully beats Vandermeulen on the right, and the Genk full-back pulls him down. He goes into the book and Liverpool will have a late first half chance.
Genk U19 0-1 Liverpool U19
45+2 minutes
Close! Van den Berg rises highest to head the free kick at goal, but the goalkeeper makes a flying save to his left.
Half time: That's it for the first half. Liverpool lead courtesy of Stewart's penalty and they've probably edged the opening 45 minutes. Genk have had chances too, though, and will feel they're still in with a chance.
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