Liverpool moved top in their Champions League group with a 2-1 win over Genk.
Georginio Wijnaldum opened the scoring from a double deflection by Carlos Cuesta and Sebastien Dewaest that allowed him to finish from close range.
But Ally Samatta pulled the visitors level as he eluded Fabinho and beat James Milner at a corner in the 41st minute to head past Alisson in the Kop’s goal.
After the break, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain continued his impressive run of form with a fourth goal in as many games after being teed up by Mohamed Salah.
Here were the key talking points from Anfield:
Klopp puts one eye on City
On an evening when Liverpool already had to contend with prioritising fixtures, Jurgen Klopp attempted to exercise a cautious approach with the ones up ahead.
He played it safe and demoted three first-team regulars for Genk’s visit in anticipation of this weekend’s top-of-the-table clash with Manchester City.
Andy Robertson, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino all started on the substitutes’ bench, predominantly with a view to resting them ahead of Sunday’s showdown.
Ensuring a best chance to maintain his side’s commanding lead in the Premier League title race was clearly at the fore of the German’s pre-match reasoning.
All three made cameo appearances late on but the importance of conserving energy for the champions’ visit took a slight precedence over this Group E tie.
Salah shines on centre-stage
Mane and Firmino’s collective absence did still carry some tangible benefits.
It allowed Mohamed Salah a rare moment to assume centre-stage at a time when his form has been far from sparkling for the Champions League holders.
The Egyptian enjoyed one of his more productive outings as a routine threat in Genk’s half, notably in setting up Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s decisive goal.
Granted, there were still familiar flaws in Salah’s repertoire; his final ball often appeared to be lacking while his finishing also left a lot to be desired.
Confidence is going to be key if the back-to-back Golden Boot winner is to recapture the displays which made him such a potent force for the Reds.
But a night in the spotlight clearly did Salah far more good than harm.
Ox assumes the Gerrard role
Goals alone will not cement Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s credentials to be given a regular starring role for Liverpool – but they are certainly helping his case.
A fourth goal in his last three starts from the midfielder tipped the balance of this encounter at a time when his side were comfortable yet not clinical.
There was, however, more to Oxlade-Chamberlain than the second-half strike. His overall display was more refined than his sharp-shooting often belied.
Much as the England international will bristle at any suggestions about his peak form, he is edging ever closer to disrupting the current midfield order.
His ability to switch the play and find the net from both in and outside the box bears an uncanny resemblance with Liverpool’s last true midfield dynamo.
Oxlade-Chamberlain admitted that he grew up wanting to be Steven Gerrard. If he carries on this form, the void the ‘Huyton Hammer’ left may finally be filled.
Reds’ clean sheet woes continue
Clean sheets, or lack of them, are becoming a source of frustration at Anfield.
Alisson admits it annoys him that Liverpool continue to concede ‘stupid goals’ and will be even more resentful about his side gifting Genk a first-half equaliser.
He has compatriot Fabinho to thank for that after Ally Samatta gave him the slip from the corner while James Milner fared little better when vying for the header.
Even with the Community Shield and Super Cup discounted, Liverpool have only racked up three shut-outs from their last 17 games in all competitions this term.
At the same stage of last season, they had already amassed eight and put together two separate three-game streaks without having their goal breached.
A return to those heady days is urgently required if Liverpool are to avoid the dreaded goal difference conundrum, both in Europe and the Premier League.