Liverpool sit top of Champions League Group E thanks to a slender 2-1 win over Genk, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain netting the winner.
Match Reports
It was far from a vintage display from Jurgen Klopp's men, who for a period looked to be in danger of dropping points after Mbwana Samatta's fine header, but the impressive Oxlade-Chamberlain justified his selection with the winning goal that ensured Liverpool capitalised on Napoli's 1-1 draw with Salzburg.
Georginio Wijnaldum opened the scoring early on with a clever finish, but Liverpool lacked a clinical edge for the remainder of the first half and were pegged back by Samatta five minutes before the interval.
The Reds wasted numerous chances to increase their advantage, Naby Keita drawing a fine save from Gaetan Coucke before Mohamed Salah and James Milner both missed the target.
And Samatta made them pay just before half-time, steering home a powerful header from Bryan Heynen's corner after Fabinho allowed him a free run at the ball.
But Liverpool showed renewed focus after the restart and Oxlade-Chamberlain made a decisive impact, taking a touch and then shooting left-footed on the turn after receiving Salah's pass, picking out the bottom-right corner.
Group standings
Match Events
10' Van Dijk's shot over the bar
The home side win another corner after Dawaest turned Alexander-Arnold’s cross out of play. The full-back’s delivery is flicked well over the bar by Van Dijk in the centre of the box.
14' GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Genk (Wijnaldum)
Milner breaks away down the left-hand side of the field following a one-two with Origi before drilling a low cross into the area. Genk fail to clear their lines on numerous occasions and Wijnaldum is alert to flick the loose ball into the top left corner from close range.
25' Keita has two attempts
Following a quick counter, Oxlade-Chamberlain slides the ball to his left for Keita, who sees his left-footed efforted from a difficult angle saved by Coucke. After the first stop, the ball comes back to the Guinian midfielder, whose follow-up strike is blocked by Dewaest from only a few yards out.
40' GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Genk (Samatta)
Heynen whips a dangerous cross into the box following a corner to the left, and Samatta leaps above Milner before powerfully heading the ball beyond Alisson and into the top left corner.
43' CLOSE! Origi's shot wide out
Keita drives forward once more before playing in Origi down the left-hand side of the box. The Belgian sets himself before lashing a close-range strike beyond the far post. He should have done better there.
53' GOAL! Liverpool 2-1 Genk (Oxlade-Chamberlain)
Salah shows great strength to hold off Lucumi before laying it off to Oxlade-Chamberlain. From the edge of the box, the midfielder turns and fires the ball into the bottom right corner.