Liverpool put their recent struggles to one side as they demolished Rangers 7-1 to end the scottish side's chances of qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League.
With Liverpool only having two wins in the Premier League, and missing the likes of Luis Diaz and Trent Alexander-Arnold through injury, Rangers could have been forgiven for thinking Jurgen Klopp's side were there for the taking.
In a tense night at Ibrox, both sides needed a win. Rangers needed victory to keep alive their chances of progressing to the last 16, while Liverpool needed victory after another disappointing display in the defeat to Arsenal.
It was Rangers who started the stronger of the sides with early chances, and it would be them who would strike first when Scott Arfield took advantage of some indecisive Liverpool defending to give them a vital lead.
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The lead only lasted seven minutes, with Roberto Firmino heading Liverpool level from a corner after some poor Rangers defending.
Rangers continued to look dangerous, but Liverpool would go into the interval level.
Jurgen Klopp’s side looked far more measured in the second half and took the lead through Firmino’s second goal after he met Joe Gomez’s cross.
BOBBY FIRMINO! 🔴
He is in RED HOT form! 🔥#RANLIV | #UCL pic.twitter.com/9ZkiQt6W9P— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) October 12, 2022
The Brazilian forward has been a shining light during difficult times for Liverpool and provided the assist for Darwin Nunez to seal the victory for Liverpool.
In what would be hugely encouraging for Liverpool fans, the goals were far from finished.
Mohamed Salah, who has struggled in front of goal so far this season, came off the bench to score a seven-minute hat-trick.
HAT-TRICK FOR SALAH! ⚽️⚽️⚽️
He's been on the pitch for 12 minutes! 🔥#RANLIV | #UCL pic.twitter.com/lb4RJl0wj1— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) October 12, 2022
Salah broke two records in the process. Scoring the quickest hat-trick in the Champions League, while his three tidy finishes brought him up to 37 Champions League goals for Liverpool, the most one player has scored for an English side in the competition.
To add further embarrassment for Rangers, Harvey Elliot added a seventh, with Ibrox mostly cleared out at this stage.
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