Liverpool delivered Arne Slott’s ‘best performance of the season’ at a crucial time. Finally we see why they are Premier League champions and Anfield has their team back.
Liverpool won 4-1 on aggregate, setting up a draw with holders Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals, but Galatasaray were beaten 4-0. There could have been more. Ugo Ekitike said there is a possibility of reaching double digits.
Crucially for Slott was the way they performed, the consistency of Liverpool’s performance. It was the perfect response to the pressure he was under after Sunday’s disastrous 1-1 draw with Spurs.
“From start to finish, we played the game I wanted, the players and the fans wanted,” the Liverpool manager said after the match. “Not only did we play a perfect game from start to finish, but so did the fans.”
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Watch for free: Highlights of the Premier League match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.
The boos after the draw with Spurs spelled misery for the rest of Liverpool’s season. Jamie Carragher said slots would struggle to get fans back to going to matches. But now there is potential at Anfield.
While Galatasaray’s xG was 4.88, Liverpool were completely superior. Performances like this suggest that the team, who are still fighting for Europe, the FA Cup and Champions League qualification, can take some things away from this season.
It was a perfect night for the Mohamed Salah-capped Slot, who overcame a first-half penalty miss to score twice and then went on to score another goal, producing his best performance of the season to become the first African player to reach 50 goals in the Champions League.
Many doubted whether Slott would be able to overcome his rift with Salah. Now they are questioning whether he is the man to lead Liverpool out of their slump. On Wednesday night, like Salah, he reminded us not to count him out just yet.
Mohamed Salah is hugged by Dominik Szoboszlai after scoring Liverpool’s fourth goal against Galatasaray
“What he did after missing the penalty just before halftime says a lot about him. It’s difficult for an individual and for the team,” Slott said.
“This season we have had many setbacks and in the first half and second half we created one chance after another without giving due credit to our performance and we failed to score.
“And Mo and the team came out the same way in the second half. He provided Hugo with a great assist and scored that trademark goal that he has scored so many times in this stadium and this club. He cut inside and took a corner.”
“It says a lot about his mental strength, but it definitely says a lot about the team, because adversity is definitely something that will be talked about this season.”
This season has seen Slott move away from Jurgen Klopp’s heavy metal football in search of greater control. Liverpool have been accused of losing their identity. Nearing the crossroads of the season, this was a sign they had rediscovered it.
“For me that was Liverpool’s best performance of the season,” Sky Sports pundit Carragher told CBS. “It was a big contrast to the game against Tottenham.”
Mo Salah and Hugo Ekitike celebrate against Galatasaray
Ekitike is one of Liverpool’s star players and Carragher shared this analysis, with the forward completely agreeing. “We fought for each other. There was great intensity. I think it could have been 10-0,” the forward told CBS.
Dominik Szoboszlai, Carragher’s player of the match, was unable to explain the stark difference in his performance from Sunday. The midfielder urged his team not to fall into the trap of inconsistency that has plagued the season.
“Now we know this is possible,” Szoboszlai told CBC. “There should be no doubt that we will do this every game. It doesn’t matter if we play at Anfield at 8pm in the Champions League.”
Liverpool’s best nights tend to come in the Champions League at Anfield. A test for the team in the slot, and perhaps a good gauge of what to expect for the rest of the season, will take place at Brighton at lunchtime on Saturday.
Liverpool still have a place in the Champions League. Neither Chelsea nor Aston Villa, their closest rivals for the top five, appear to have the qualifications to pull away.
Liverpool sit between these two teams, currently in fifth place, well enough to qualify, and their performance in the Champions League could be crucial to ensure Arsenal are the only English team to advance.
The Premier League champions will play the Champions League winners in the next round. PSG eliminated Liverpool in the round of 16 last season.
Until Wednesday night, a rematch felt like a scary proposition. If Liverpool and Salah can maintain this form, it would be wiser to knock Liverpool out of the Champions League.
Analysis: Liverpool increased the tempo
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Liverpool head coach Arn Slott was thrilled with his team’s performance as they defeated Galatasaray 4-0 and booked a Champions League quarter-final encounter with Paris Saint-Germain.
Adam Bate of Sky Sports at Anfield:
Jamie Carragher said at the weekend: “I can’t think of a single game all season where Liverpool put in a perfect performance both attacking and defending and lost by three or four points.” “Every game was a struggle.” This display was different.
Liverpool took on Galatasaray from the start, feeding off the energy of the home crowd, which did not include the visiting team’s banned supporters. In his program notes, Slott called on his team to “go the extra mile” to make his return a reality.
“The incentive is there, so we have to do everything we can to secure it. The responsibility is on us. This is an opportunity to move on to the next round and an opportunity to remind ourselves and everyone else of our capabilities. Let’s make the most of it.”
Liverpool performed so well and so dominant that Galatasaray goalkeeper Ugurcan Çakir was one of the standout players on the pitch despite conceding four goals. He was dominant and a reminder of what Liverpool players can do when in full flow.
We haven’t seen enough of that this season, with too many games still unbalanced late in the season and it’s costing Liverpool in the Premier League. But there are still awards for playing in Europe and domestically. And you might feel a little more confident that you can pursue these awards.
