Liverpool vs Qarabag - The Big Match Preview
By Steven Northover
Liverpool's topsy turvy season rolls on with another convincing win against Azerbaijan's Qarabag.
With questions being raised about his future, and the stalking horse of Xabi Alonso in the background, manager Arne Slot needed a performance from his team, and they delivered.
Match Review
Pre-match, a mixture of anxiety and anticipation birthed a nervous home crowd, especially as Jeremie Frimpong went down injured inside the first five minutes.
However the Reds started to grow into the game, with two early chances from Hugo Ekitike and Coady Gakpo - the Dutchmen unlucky to connect to a sumptuous Mo Salah cross.
In the resulting corner, Alexis Mac Allister took advantage from scrappy defending to head in the opening goal.
From there, Liverpool began to turn the screw, pushing Qarabag further and further back, before Hugo Ekitike turned provider to send in Florian Wirtz to score his first European goal for Liverpool.
That said, Qarabag are a good side, having already beaten Chelsea so far this season, so didn't deviate from their own game plan, and never let Liverpool settle into their lead. It kept the home side honest, not allowing them to drift into that characteristic lull that has been a feature of some of Liverpool's performances this season. However, Liverpool came out in the second half with the same confident bonhommie that they finished with the first, culminating with an exquisite free kick from Mo Salah.
Like Marseille last week, Liverpool quickly became the dominant force all over the pitch, with the wind thoroughly taken out of the opposition's sails once Salah had scored.
Credit: The Straits Times
A lot has been said about the quality, or lack thereof, of Liverpool's attacking performances this season - tonight, certain in the second half, the intricate, fast, skillful play that has been a key characteristic in recent years. So it was inevitable when Liverpool scored their fourth, where almost as soon as a Qarabag attack had broken down, Ekitike was already chasing down on to the Kop, slamming home his second of the match.
As such, minutes later, with Qarabag once again losing possession, a clever touch from Szoboszlai - who was once again immense - allowed Alexia Mac Allister to score his second of the night.
From there, Qarabag inevitably lost any attacking impetus, and remained largely in their own half, with Liverpool able to attack almost at will.
As for the home side, with Newcastle up next and then Manchester City the week after, Slot rang the changes and gave a notable debut for 19-year-old defender Amara Nallo.
Credit: LFC (via X)
One of those Substitutes, Federico Chiesa added the cherry to an impressive cake on the Cusp of full-time, scoring Liverpool's sixth, after an impressive run and pass from Virgil Van Dijk.
It's tempting to be slightly cynical about the final result. English teams have dominated the Champions League this season - as they did last year - with five of the top eight being from the Premier League. So a result against Qarabag was, on the face of it, an inevitability.
But there is a lot of noise around Liverpool at the moment, and plenty of proof that they can be beaten by just about anyone this season.
But they can also beat anyone.
Verdicts
This was a much needed victory, not just for qualification, but also after a deeply disappointing loss at the weekend.
As mentioned, rumours about when (rather than if) Xabi Alonso will be appointed in Arne Slot's successor - as early as the weekend - and as long as the Spaniard is available, the rumours will remain. However all the current Liverpool manager has to do, is keep his team playing with this tempo until the end of the season, and he will get the trophy he thinks he deserves.
The loss of Frimpong once again highlights just how light Liverpool are, particularly in defence, and the decision not bring in fresh recruits this January Window is starting to look even more foolhardy - but that's for another day, for all the apparent turmoil off the pitch, and poor performances on it, Liverpool are once again in the knockout rounds of the Champions League, and that is something to celebrate.
