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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Paul Gorst

Giovanni van Bronckhorst may have just predicted Liverpool future after Rangers win

Of all the words spoken by those associated with Liverpool in recent days, it was 10 that were uttered by Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst that best summed it up.

"Form is temporary and it can change in one game," said the Dutch coach inside the bowels of Anfield's media room on Monday evening when the conversation turned to his hosts’ current predicament.

And while few will genuinely believe this 2-0 victory over a modest Rangers in the Champions League marks the real return of normal service for Jurgen Klopp's team, it is at least a hop in the right direction ahead of a couple of weeks - and fixtures with Arsenal and Manchester City - that have the potential to transform this season.

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Whereas Liverpool were unable to build on their 2-1 win against Ajax in the previous European game here due to the postponement of their Chelsea visit and the subsequent international break, this latest Group A triumph can be the catalyst that sees momentum, rhythm, consistency and stability all eventually find their way back to the Reds. They are four qualities that have been sorely missing of late. This was much more like it at least.

For all the writing off being done with regards to their general chances of glory this season after a frustrating few weeks, it's worth remembering that only Bayern Munich have a better UEFA coefficient than them currently in the European Cup.

Three final appearances since 2018 will do that for those particular numbers but it also points to the fact that Klopp's Reds remain a feared powerhouse on the continent, regardless of the domestic indifference.

That was at least something still recognised by Van Bronckhorst as he took his Rangers side south of the border for the first-ever competitive meeting between these two storied clubs of British football.

"They have been in three finals in the last five years and are still one of the best teams in Europe," said the Gers boss "Of all our opponents we faced last season and this season, probably this is the best side."

Respectful deference, naturally, but the Dutchman will have also smelled opportunity when he and his staff analysed just how they could be hurt in the run-up to this historic meeting on Tuesday evening. It never looked like it would transpire, however, as Liverpool turned in a display much more in-keeping with what supporters have come to expect here.

Klopp signalled his attacking intent with the team news as he gave a first Champions League start to Darwin Nunez up top with a triumvirate of Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz behind him.

But for all the attacking might on display in the final third it was the right-back who opened the scoring with a beauty of a free-kick inside eight minutes. Trent Alexander-Arnold might be in the eye of the media storm at present with regards to his defensive qualities but his wand of right foot won't ever leave him. An otherwise inspired Allan McGregor had no answer for the curled effort after Nunez had been fouled by Ben Davies.

Speaking of Nunez, it was the £64m striker's first start in this competition since he was beaten here as a Benfica player in April and he was a hive of movement and mayhem during a first half that saw him thwarted four times by Rangers' veteran goalkeeper McGregor.

The elusive goal would continue to evade Nunez in the second half before he left to a standing ovation for Harvey Elliott inside the final 10 minutes. The Uruguay international is still raw with rough edges to smooth but like the team itself this was a firm step forward in his efforts to get the campaign properly up and running. Nunez now just needs minutes on the pitch and plenty of them.

A starting place, of course, is never guaranteed at Anfield but he needs a prolonged chance to show just why those at the club are convinced he can be the man to lead the line for years to come.

Salah had his fourth of the season less than 10 minutes after the restart after Diaz had been fouled by Leon King inside the area. Despite McGregor's excellent display, the Egyptian made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Napoli's 6-1 hammering of Ajax in Group A's other game means that a repeat of this at Ibrox next week and Liverpool's hopes of another crack at the knockout stages in the New Year will be within touching distance.

Billed as 'the Battle of Britain' by some, pre-match, it never threatened to be anything of the sort once the game actually kicked off. This was a much-needed, welcome foot forward for Klopp's men, but there's still plenty of work to be done, even if Van Bronckhorst's Anfield assessment was an astute one.

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