Mohamed Salah back among goals as Liverpool roar past Qarabag into last 16

 

Mohamed Salah back among goals as Liverpool roar past Qarabag into last 16

Mohamed Salah Ends Goal Drought as Liverpool Crush Qarabag to Reach 

Liverpool are having to stomach “a very bad cocktail” in the Premier League of wasted chances and cheap goals conceded, according to Arne Slot. To extend the mixologist’s analogy, his team are enjoying life with a few margaritas in the Champions League.

Slot’s side cruised into the last 16 for the second successive season with a demolition of Qarabag at Anfield. Mohamed Salah was among the goalscorers for the first time since accusing Liverpool of throwing him under the bus, while Alexis Mac Allister, Florian Wirtz, the potent Hugo Ekitiké and substitute Federico Chiesa were also on the scoresheet.

The biggest victory of his Liverpool reign plus a clean sheet were the perfect tonic for Slot following defeat at Bournemouth. Avoiding next month’s two-legged playoff is an added bonus given his mounting injury problems. Six wins out of eight in the Champions League group, including against both Madrid clubs and Inter, serve as a reminder of the pedigree that Liverpool possess but have failed to show consistently in their troubled title defence.

 Salah Back on Scoresheet as Liverpool Storm Into Champions League Knockouts

“We’re happy to be going straight into the last 16, especially as only two years ago we were playing in the Europa League and went out in the quarter-finals to Atalanta,” said Slot, whose team will play either Juventus, Atlético Madrid, Galatasaray or Club Brugge in the last 16. “Now we are two seasons running in the top eight of the Champions League and we are hungry for more this season.”

Slot’s night did not get off to the best start. Already shorn of defensive options and needing Ryan Gravenberch to deputise for Ibrahima Konaté in central defence, Liverpool lost Jeremie Frimpong to injury in the second minute. The full-back pulled up while pursuing a Qarabag clearance down his right flank. Credit to the visiting captain, Abdellah Zoubir, for putting the ball out of play immediately for the full-back to receive treatment. Frimpong has previously sustained two hamstring injuries during his debut season at Anfield and was distraught when limping off. Slot could only confirm this was a muscle injury.

The thought went to Slot’s pre-match press conference, when he defended withdrawing Frimpong against Bournemouth on the basis the Netherlands international was tired and his workload needed managing carefully. “If people knew the struggles we and I are facing, they would be more understanding of the decisions I make,” the head coach had said.

Frimpong’s exit and Wataru Endo’s arrival left Liverpool with a back four comprising two defenders and two midfielders. Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson and Milos Kerkez were the only fit, recognised defenders available to Slot although he is hopeful Konaté will return from compassionate leave against Newcastle on Saturday. Joe Gomez could also be back from a hip problem.