Liverpool thrash Galatasaray to reach Champions League quarters
Liverpool thrashed Galatasaray to reach the Champions League quarter-finals (Paul ELLIS) Liverpool shrugged off their Premier League malaise to storm into the Champions League quarter-finals by thrashing Galatasaray 4-0 at Anfield on Wednesday. Goals from Dominik Szoboszlai, Hugo Ekitike, Ryan Gravenberch and Mohamed Salah overturned a 1-0 first-leg deficit for Arne Slot's men to set up a reunion with defending champions Paris Saint-Germain in the last eight. Slot needed a reaction from the English champions after they were booed off at Anfield on Sunday for the latest in a series of lacklustre displays in a 1-1 draw against struggling Tottenham.
Languishing fifth in the Premier League, the Champions League could save Liverpool's season and Slot's job. The Dutchman had given a rest to some of his stars at the weekend and was rewarded with a dominant display that could have resulted in a far more comprehensive scoreline. "We could (have) won 10-0, but we did a good job.
We can be proud," said Ekitike. The French international added on facing his former club in the last eight: "I can't wait to be there. " Galatasaray's hopes of causing an upset was dealt a massive blow inside the first few minutes when star striker Victor Osimhen injured his forearm in a clash with Ibrahima Konate.
The Nigerian international was clearly hobbled as he continued on until half-time before being replaced by Leroy Sane. By that point the Turkish champions' advantage had already been erased. Szoboszlai has been Liverpool's outstanding performer in a troubled season and levelled the tie with a cushioned finish from a well-worked corner on 25 minutes.
Galatasaray somehow escaped further punishment before the break. Salah missed a glorious chance to immediately double the Reds' lead when he failed to chip Ugurcan Cakır. Florian Wirtz's deflected effort flew just over and Cakır repelled another sweet Szoboszlai strike.