Liverpool advanced to the last 16 of the Champions League by defeating Qarabag 6:0 at Anfield.
Alexis McAllister scored twice and Florian Wirtz, Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike and Federico Chiesa were also on target as the Reds overturned their recent poor run in style to secure third place in the league stage and ease the pressure on Arne Slott.
An early injury to Jeremy Frimpong meant the night was not without difficulties, leaving Liverpool deeper into their defensive injury crisis. They played this game with two midfielders in the back line, but Mac Allister and Wirtz had two of them midway through the first half.
Sloto’s side struggled against low blocks, but Qarabag’s more ambitious approach, attacking in numbers, played into Liverpool’s hands. They had plenty of opportunities to increase their advantage on the counterattack and by winning the ball high.
Salah’s free-kick made it three early in the second half before Ekitike added a stunning fourth after collecting the ball in his own half. McAllister came in fifth on a night when much of the anger surrounding Liverpool’s form had died down.
Slott referred to that ‘noise’ in the build-up, but the mood was ultimately celebratory, with Virgil van Dijk sealing the victory as he swooped in to set up Chiesa’s sixth in the final minute. Andy Robertson, who has been linked with a move, was serenaded after the final whistle. And, despite all the challenges, Liverpool’s European dream lives on.
Liverpool’s Jeremy Frimpong was injured early in the first half
Frimpong worries, but will Liverpool buy?
Slott believes Liverpool will be without Frimpong for the Premier League game against Newcastle at the weekend, but refused to know whether the right-back’s injury crisis will force the club into the market this transfer window.
With Conor Bradley already out for the season, an injury to Frimpong forced Wataru Enda into the right-back position, with Ryan Gravenburch already filling in at centre-back due to absences.
“Obviously if a player goes out like that, you don’t expect him to play on Saturday against Newcastle,” Slott said of Frimpong’s injury.
But when asked about a possible emergency loan signing, he was less certain.
“As a club, we always make decisions, or at least we try to make smart decisions, so we don’t just look at the short term, but also the long term. In the long term, that’s why we sign young players, very good players, but young players who can still develop. That’s the reason we also sign young players.”
“Now we can see this development with a few. And it always depends on whether there are players that we think can help us, and if they are, can we afford them?
“And our players are coming back from injuries, and I just said that we don’t have a squad where we have four right backs and 12 midfielders and three or four nines, so we have to do smart things for the near future, but also for the longer future.”
“Let’s see how Jeremy is first, he might not be able to play on Saturday but he might be able to play a day or two later.
“And now we’re going to a one-game-a-week schedule, so that will usually mean fewer injuries, but we’re never sure.”
Liverpool’s Jeremy Frimpong was injured early in the first half
Slot: I played it too much
Slott pointed out that “a muscle injury usually has to do with overworking a player” and received some criticism for replacing Frimpong in the defeat at Bournemouth.
“He showed again today that sometimes things can be a bit more complicated than people think, so Jeremy is a great example of that.”
“I think I got a question from one of you sitting there: ‘Can you understand that the fans were a bit upset that you took Jeremy Frimpong off at that point?’
“Maybe those same fans should have a different opinion because even when he was resting he was injured, and I think he was sitting here the day before the game and telling you all the difference between the Bundesliga and the Premier League.
“Those are things I have to take into account, and obviously I’ve played him too much lately for this to happen again. It’s really sad for him, but definitely for us, because our full-back is out all season.
“But we will find a way again. As you saw today, the way is usually maximum attacking, we did that today with players in positions where you don’t expect them.”
Curtis Jones and Joe Gomez are alternate options at right-back, although both missed out against Qarabag. Slott hopes to return them soon.
“Curtis has been sick so we have to wait and see how it develops. Joe may be tight, I hope and expect he will be back but I can’t guarantee that yet but hopefully he will be back with us.”