Ox sends out City message
Two goals in Belgium a fortnight ago were an indication Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was taking significant steps back towards his old self.
What they didn't do, though, was transform him into a centre forward.
Yet that's where the England man found himself as Jurgen Klopp rotated his resources in unexpected fashion for the Champions League return against Genk at Anfield.
Of course, the number nine role isn't quite the same at Liverpool as many other clubs, Roberto Firmino very much his own man.
Gini Wijnaldum discovered in Camp Nou last season it isn't easy to replicate the Brazilian's contribution, so it was interesting to see how Oxlade-Chamberlain fared, particularly with Sadio Mane also benched.
The first half was okay, the player doing most of his best work when dropping into a deeper position in which he is more comfortable.
Passes were confident, movement solid.
But it took only eight minutes of the second half for Klopp's decision to be justified, Oxlade-Chamberlain turning inside the area and firing an excellent left-footed shot low into the bottom corner for the winner.
While not quite as blistering as his strike against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup last week, it could perhaps prove more significant. And not just in the context of Liverpool's Champions League campaign.
Klopp pointed to Oxlade-Chamberlain making a telling difference in turning defeat into victory at Aston Villa on Saturday.
And the player's recent form – that's four goals in as many games – has surely put him in the frame for a start against Manchester City.
After all, when Pep Guardiola's side come calling, things happen for Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Gomez steadies the ship
It's fair to say Joe Gomez's season hasn't quite gone as the player – or indeed his manager – would have envisaged.
Jurgen Klopp gave Gomez the nod during the opening weeks ahead of Joel Matip, an indication he was once again ready to put his long-term faith in the England international.
Yet unsure performances saw first Matip and then, after a difficult evening for Gomez in Liverpool's opening Champions League home game against RB Salzburg, Dejan Lovren leap ahead in the pecking order to partner Virgil van Dijk at centre-back.
The visit of Genk therefore gave Gomez an opportunity to restore confidence.
It wasn't always straightforward, the youngster targeted by Mbwana Samatta and later substitute Theo Bongonda.
But the numbers favoured Gomez. He won two-thirds of his duels, attempting the most by any Liverpool player, and also made the most interceptions along with Trent Alexander-Arnold while only Van Dijk made more clearances for the Reds.
Progress of sorts for the player, but another blemish for Liverpool's defence with the concession of Samatta's equaliser from a corner.
It's now the longest Liverpool have gone without a clean sheet since 2014, an eighth successive game without a shut-out.
Salah keeping powder dry
Jurgen Klopp wasn't thinking about Manchester City on Monday.
In fact, the Liverpool boss was extremely reluctant to discuss anything related to his team's title rivals.
But he would be fooling nobody with an insistence Sunday's forthcoming Anfield tussle between the duo didn't influence his team selection here, six changes going some way to explaining an underwhelming if ultimately efficient performance.
Genk, game but limited, were always kept at arm's length, Liverpool limping along in second gear, just doing enough.
Mohamed Salah encapsulated the Reds' evening. On several occasions good skill and his lightning pace put him into excellent positions, only to be let down by either poor decision-making or bad execution.
Nevertheless, he could still claim an assist for Oxlade-Chamberlain's decider, and has now been directly involved in 68 goals in 59 appearances for Liverpool at Anfield in all competitions – 50 goals and 18 assists.
Salah, like Liverpool, will hope he's been saving his best in reserve for Sunday.
Now, at last, it's time to think about Manchester City.
