Mohamed Salah again amongst targets as Liverpool roar previous Qarabag into final 16 | Champions League

Liverpool are having to abdomen “a really unhealthy cocktail” within the Premier League of wasted probabilities and low-cost targets conceded, in line with Arne Slot. To increase the mixologist’s analogy, his crew are having fun with life with just a few margaritas within the Champions League.

Slot’s facet cruised into the final 16 for the second successive season with a demolition of Qarabag at Anfield. Mohamed Salah was among the many goalscorers for the primary time since accusing Liverpool of throwing him beneath the bus, whereas Alexis Mac Allister, Florian Wirtz, the potent Hugo Ekitiké and substitute Federico Chiesa have been additionally on the scoresheet.

The largest victory of his Liverpool reign plus a clear sheet have been the right tonic for Slot following defeat at Bournemouth. Avoiding subsequent month’s two-legged playoff is an added bonus given his mounting harm issues. Six wins out of eight within the Champions League group, together with towards each Madrid golf equipment and Inter, function a reminder of the pedigree that Liverpool possess however have failed to indicate constantly of their troubled title defence.

“We’re comfortable to be going straight into the final 16, particularly as solely two years in the past we have been taking part in within the Europa League and went out within the quarter-finals to Atalanta,” mentioned Slot, whose crew will play both Juventus, Atlético Madrid, Galatasaray or Membership Brugge within the final 16. “Now we’re two seasons working within the prime eight of the Champions League and we’re hungry for extra this season.”

Slot’s evening didn’t get off to one of the best begin. Already shorn of defensive choices and needing Ryan Gravenberch to deputise for Ibrahima Konaté in central defence, Liverpool misplaced Jeremie Frimpong to harm within the second minute. The complete-back pulled up whereas pursuing a Qarabag clearance down his proper flank. Credit score to the visiting captain, Abdellah Zoubir, for placing the ball out of play instantly for the full-back to obtain remedy. Frimpong has beforehand sustained two hamstring accidents throughout his debut season at Anfield and was distraught when limping off. Slot may solely affirm this was a muscle harm.

The thought went to Slot’s pre-match press convention, when he defended withdrawing Frimpong towards Bournemouth on the idea the Netherlands worldwide was drained and his workload wanted managing fastidiously. “If individuals knew the struggles we and I are going through, they might be extra understanding of the choices I make,” the top coach had mentioned.

Frimpong’s exit and Wataru Endo’s arrival left Liverpool with a again 4 comprising two defenders and two midfielders. Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson and Milos Kerkez have been the one match, recognised defenders out there to Slot though he’s hopeful Konaté will return from compassionate depart towards Newcastle on Saturday. Joe Gomez is also again from a hip drawback.

Liverpool ensured the disruption had no fast impression with two targets in fast succession towards keen however restricted opponents who, due to outcomes elsewhere, certified for the playoffs. Slot’s crew took the lead from a set piece, a lot to his delight. Dominik Szoboszlai’s nook flicked off the defender Kevin Medina and was met on the again put up by Van Dijk. His header bounced up for Mac Allister to nod over the road earlier than Mateusz Kochalski may claw clear.

It was quickly two when Ekitiké held up Robertson’s ball and spun away from two Qarabag gamers earlier than squaring inside to Wirtz. A chasm opened up in the course of the guests’ defence, giving the Germany worldwide time and area to select his spot within the backside nook.

There was no let-up for Qarabag after the interval. In a job reversal of their free-kick routine at Bournemouth, Szoboszlai back-heeled the ball for Salah to brush a equally emphatic end into the highest nook. It was the Egypt worldwide’s forty ninth aim within the Champions League, his first in any competitors for Liverpool since 1 November and, notably, his first since that interview at Leeds. Salah pointedly marked the second by going through the Kop and thumping the Liver chook on his chest.

Ekitiké bought the aim his efficiency deserved when beating one Qarabag central defender after the opposite to a protracted clearance out of the Liverpool penalty space. Having sprinted away from each Bahlul Mustafazade and Medina, the striker swept a scientific end previous their goalkeeper.

The guests’ show was by now disintegrating and Mac Allister claimed his second aim of the evening when Matheus Silva sliced a Szoboszlai move into the trail of the Argentina midfielder. Mac Allister duly waltzed round Kochalski and tapped into an empty internet. Chiesa accomplished the rout when Van Dijk surged out of defence and located the Italian striker in area inside the realm.

“If we enhance in each containers it’s going to be very exhausting for any crew to play towards us,” Slot mentioned. “However one recreation is just not sufficient. We’ve to do it extra usually.”