On target: Mohamed Salah scored Liverpool’s second goal against Rangers
(Picture: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)Liverpool produced one of their most convincing displays of the season to beat Rangers 2-0 at Anfield in the Champions League.
While that is far from the highest of bars, the Reds producing a string of poor performances both domestically and in Europe in recent months, the trademark aggression and intensity made a welcome return for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Trent Alexander-Arnold put himself back in the spotlight, this time for reasons he’ll be far happier with as he curled a stunning free-kick to put Liverpool in front in the early stages.
An equaliser from Rangers never looked likely but the Reds ensured there was no need for any nerves as they doubled the lead after the break, Mohamed Salah dispatching a penalty after Luis Diaz had been brought down.
While Napoli remain in firm control at the top of Group A after a 6-1 win over Ajax, Liverpool will be well placed to progress should they pick up another three points at Ibrox next week. There is a big test to come at the Emirates against Premier League table-toppers Arsenal before then.
Klopp shifted away from his favoured formation and opted for a 4-2-3-1 instead, with Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez and Diaz all coming into the side alongside Salah in an attacking lineup.
It was no surprise that a flying start followed from Liverpool and they got their reward with seven minutes on the clock. Alexander-Arnold stood over a free-kick 25 yards from goal and duly whipped it over the wall and under the bar to open the scoring in sensational fashion.
From then on it was the Allan McGregor show, the 40-year-old making four saves from Nunez alone in the opening 45 minutes as the striker found the veteran in between him and a first Champions League goal for Liverpool time and time again.
The goalkeeper was also called into action as Salah curled an effort towards the far corner, it seemingly having escaped Borna Barisic’s attention that the Egyptain is left-footed as he regularly let Liverpool’s main man cut inside off the right wing.
Jota was close to tapping in Virgil van Dijk’s flick-on from a corner, the touch from the defender taking it inches out of reach, with the main positive for Rangers in the first-half that the whistle came with Liverpool’s advantage not doubled.
The Reds needed to wait a minute longer for their goal in the second-half than they did in the opening period, as Rangers once again suffered an early blow to their plans.
Diaz was picked out by Jordan Henderson and ran straight at Leon King, going over an outstretched leg in the box as the referee was left with the simplest of decisions. Salah stepped up to the spot and lifted it over McGregor to give his side the control they deserved.
The Scottish goalkeeper continued to add to his personal highlights package, by now becoming a feature-length film. Jota swivelled in the box and hammered a shot that was seemingly destined for the far corner, but McGregor stuck out a glove to tip it over the bar.
Rangers were largely unable to put the kind of pressure on the Liverpool defence that so many sides have done so far this season, but a minute of chaos threatened a grandstand finish. Rabbi Matondo squeezed an effort past Alisson only to see Kostas Tsimikas incredibly divert it over the bar while charging back onto his own line, before the goalkeeper made a big save to deny Antonio Colak seconds later.
It was too late for that episode to serve as anything other than a brief reminder of the vulnerabilities at the back for Liverpool, something Rangers will have to be far braver in attempting to exploit on home soil next week.
