Liverpool put their domestic struggles behind them as they cruised into the Champions League knockout stages with a 6-0 thrashing of Qarabag at Anfield. The victory was their sixth and most straightforward group-stage win, contrasting sharply with their patchy Premier League form under Arne Slot.
Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and Dominik Szoboszlai orchestrated the rout, while Mohamed Salah’s passionate celebration after scoring his first goal since November 1 highlighted the enduring quality of Liverpool’s veterans. Alexis Mac Allister scored twice, with Federico Chiesa adding a late strike to seal an emphatic win.
Liverpool finished third in the group table, avoiding the play-off round. The Azerbaijani opponents struggled to cope with Liverpool’s pressing and intricate passing, with Wirtz justifying his hefty transfer fee and Ekitike impressing both as a target man and a dribbler.
Four second-half goals put the tie beyond doubt, but injuries continued to mount for Slot’s side. Jeremie Frimpong pulled up with a hamstring injury early on, forcing Wataru Endo to fill in at right-back. With only three senior outfield substitutes available, the squad depth remains a concern ahead of Saturday’s Premier League visit from Newcastle United.
