Liverpool reached the last 16 of the Champions League in stunning fashion as they sealed a 7-0 victory at home to Spartak Moscow on Wednesday.
* Video from BT Sport; geographic restrictions may apply.
The Reds welcomed their Russian opponents to Anfield needing at least a point to seal their place in the next round of Europe’s top tier.
But with an abject Spartak turning up Jurgen Klopp‘s side ran rampant, producing a similar start to their previous clash with Sevilla, but then continuing to dominate.
Philippe Coutinho, captain for the night, got Liverpool off to the perfect start after Mohamed Salah was brought down in the box, sending a confident penalty into the back of the net.
The Brazilian made it 2-0 shortly after, sweeping home from inside the area after a lovely move involving Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.
Firmino was next to benefit from slack Spartak defending, drilling home with the outside of his boot after a blatant handball fell into his path.
With Liverpool going into the break 3-0 up, flashbacks of their collapse in Seville threatened, but Klopp ensured his side didn’t let their lead slip.
In fact, with a scorching volley getting the Reds back underway two minutes after the break, the hosts didn’t look back.
Coutinho sealed his hat-trick on 50 minutes, before Mane doubled his tally and Salah netted the final goal of the night, for his 18th of the campaign in just 23 appearances.
Liverpool now await Monday’s last-16 draw, with any of Bayern Munich, Basel, Juventus, Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk and Porto awaiting.
And before that, Everton visit Anfield for the first Merseyside derby of the season, a game that the Reds will head into with supreme confidence.
Fan Comments