Europa League matchday three talking points

Memorable night for Anderlecht
After drawing with Monaco and losing to Qarabağ in their first two Group J games, Anderlecht looked set for an early exit ahead of their double-header with Tottenham Hotspur. A 2-1 win has reignited their campaign, though. "A match I will probably talk about for years to come," Anderlecht's one-club man Olivier Deschacht told UEFA.com.
Berend Scholten

Two faces of Nikolić
Legia Warszawa registered only their first goal and first point from three Group D matches when drawing 1-1 at home to Club Brugge – and in Poland the question is: What happens to Nemanja Nikolić in UEFA Europa League games? The Hungary striker has 15 goals already in this season's Ekstraklasa and is chasing Henryk Reyman's 88-year-old league record of 37, but has drawn a blank in Europe. Why? One reason is that Legia tend to play attacking football in domestic competition but in Europe they need to be more cautious. Still, if they want to qualify, both Legia and Nikolić must improve and become more clinical. The trip to Club Brugge on 5 November could be crucial.
Piotr Koźmiński

The new Cristiano Ronaldo?
A week ago he had not scored a senior goal; now Matheus Pereira is being hailed as Sporting CP's new Cristiano Ronaldo. That is the buzz in Portugal anyway. After getting off the mark with two goals in a 4-0 Portuguese Cup win at fourth-tier UD Vilafranquens on Saturday, the 19-year-old academy product again struck twice in the 5-1 Group H pasting of Skënderbeu, coach Jorge Jesus's 100th European match. An opportunist header and sweet first-time left-foot shot were the source of the Brazilian winger's goals; Ronaldo has got a few like that as well.
José Nuno Pimentel

Matheus Pereira celebrates his first strike against Skënderbeu©AFP/Getty Images

Draw specialists: Liverpool
Liverpool's first home game under Jürgen Klopp did not quite go according to plan, ten-man Rubin Kazan playing the role of spoilers as they held firm for a Group B point at Anfield. The draw, 1-1, was the Reds' fourth in succession in all competitions and seventh in their last eight outings. Klopp might have been celebrating a victory, however, had Christian Benteke, making his first appearance after a month on the sidelines, rolled a shot into the back of the net rather than against the upright. With the big Belgium forward available again and Daniel Sturridge also close to his latest comeback, expect to see the Premier League side halt their sequence of stalemates sooner rather than later.

Rapid aim for group stage perfection
Group E leaders Rapid Wien have failed to progress to the knockout phase in their four previous UEFA Cup and UEFA Europa League group stage campaigns. However, Zoran Barisic's charges are on course to advance this term, having won their opening three ties. The Green-Whites will now be targeting a clean sweep to equal the feat achieved by Austrian Bundesliga rivals Salzburg in 2009/10 and 2013/14. Rapid will need German midfielder Steffen Hofmann to maintain his scoring streak – he has struck three in as many games – if they are to accomplish group stage perfection.

Sarri finding right formula
Naples-born Maurizio Sarri has led the Partenopei to a perfect start in Group D in his first European campaign, with the Serie A outfit heading the scoring charts with 11 goals. Napoli ended Midtjylland's four-match unbeaten run in Europe with a stylish attacking display in Denmark on matchday three, yet with Sarri's emphasis on perfect organisation of the defensive line, his team have also conceded just once – the joint-lowest figure in the competition. Having spent much of his career in the lower leagues, the Italian tactician is catching the eye in his first term at the Stadio San Paolo.