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Read our on-the-whistle report for Liverpool vs Qarabag in the Champions League
Liverpool sailed through to the Champions League last 16 with a 6-0 rout of Qarabag at Anfield.
Alexis Mac Allister scored in both halves with Florian Wirtz, Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike and Federico Chiesa also on target on what was a much-needed dominant performance after a disappointing Premier League defeat to Bournemouth at the weekend.
The emphatic win sees Liverpool finish the league phase in third, which is set to hand Arne Slot’s men a favourable last-16 tie – and it could eventually set them on course to meet Arsenal in the semi-finals should the English duo make it that far.
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Liverpool’s place in the top eight was not in much danger this evening but they hit an early setback when their already depleted backline was worsened further by Jeremie Frimpong’s injury. On came Wataru Endo, meaning the Reds backline had two midfielders in with Ryan Gravenberch already at centre-back.
Liverpool's current defensive injuries:
❌ Jeremie Frimpong
❌ Joe Gomez
❌ Conor Bradley
❌ Ibrahima Konate
❌ Giovanni Leoni pic.twitter.com/P6cUL6oei7
Florian Wirtz then got the first sight of goal after combining with Cody Gakpo before his shot inside the box was blocked. Hugo Ekitike later went close from distance after cutting inside from the left but his low effort did not quite bend round enough.
The Reds did find the breakthrough a few moments later though as a corner was flicked on and found Mac Alliser at the back post to squeeze it over the line.
It was a deserved opener for the hosts and a few minutes later they doubled their lead through Wirtz with a clinical finish on the edge of the box in what was his first Champions League goal for Liverpool.
Florian Wirtz bags his first Liverpool goal in the Champions League 🙌
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/PznRdtrQvu
The visitors should really have had a penalty when Gravenberch collided with Celino Duran but the referee bizarrely waved play on and no VAR check was seemingly recommended.
Liverpool should probably have made it three before half-time after a flurry of chances, the best a free header for Gakpo which he didn’t get enough contact on and it was easy for the goalkeeper to collect.
It did not take long for the Reds to make it 3-0 after the break from a free-kick as Dominik Szoboszlai backheeled the ball into Salah to bend the ball into the back of the net for his first Reds goal since November.
Hugo Ekitike with the icing on the cake 🎂
Liverpool lead 4-0 🔥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/ljTChKiyhY
The fourth goal was all about Ekitike as the striker got a touch on Van Dijk’s clearance to get him past one defender on the half-way line before he burst past another defender and slotted it home.
Mo Salah fires in a free kick to give Liverpool a 3-0 lead over Qarabag 🎯
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/qtVNxCH3Q5
Mac Allister then had his second of the game and it was arguably even easier than his first after his initial shot was saved before he tapped the ball into an empty net as Liverpool’s riot continued.
The Argentinian could easily have had a hat-trick after another smart run from deep saw him latch onto Salah’s pass but he completely miskicked his finish to miss the opportunity.
Liverpool’s sixth did come before the end as Van Dijk found himself well upfield and he teed up substitute Chiesa to bury the finish.
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