Liverpool produced a dominant second-half display to overturn a first-leg deficit and thrash Galatasaray 4-0 at Anfield, securing a place in the Champions League quarter-finals where they will face holders Paris Saint-Germain. The victory was built on intensity and incisiveness, with Dominik Szoboszlai opening the scoring before Mohamed Salah inspired a rampant second-half performance.
Szoboszlai's fine opener from a well-worked corner levelled the tie on aggregate and convinced Liverpool of their superiority over opponents who had beaten them twice in Istanbul this season. Galatasaray, without their fans after a ban following trouble at Juventus, resorted to time-wasting and theatrics, but Liverpool remained patient and were rewarded.
Mohamed Salah recovered from missing a first-half penalty to become the first African player to score 50 Champions League goals. He provided a perfect cross for Hugo Ekitiké to make it 2-0, then scored himself after his snapshot was parried. Salah's second goal, a composed finish, and a late strike from Florian Wirtz completed the rout as Liverpool scored four goals in 11 second-half minutes.
Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk admitted his side played 'bad, very bad', while Liverpool's Arne Slot praised his team's composure. The quarter-final tie against PSG will be a repeat of last season's last-16 encounter, which Slot often reminisces about.
