Liverpool produced a hit-and-miss performance as they beat Salzburg 4-3 on Wednesday night, picking up their first Champions League win since Madrid.
Liverpool 4-3 Salzburg
Champions League Group Stage (2), Anfield
October 2, 2019
Goals: Mane 9′, Robertson 25′, Salah 36′, 69′; Hwang 39′, Minamino 56′, Haaland 60′
What a bizarre evening this was.
The Reds were under pressure after losing away to Napoli, but they delivered a first-half masterclass, followed by a long period of ineptitude.
Sadio Mane finished neatly after a beautiful one-two with birthday boy Roberto Firmino to open the scoring, before Andy Robertson added a slick second.
Mohamed Salah made it 3-0 via a rebound, but Hwang Hee-chan pulled a goal back before half-time.
Takumi Minamino and Erling Braut Haaland completing a stunning comeback for the visitors, but fortunately, Salah finished in front of the Kop to earn Liverpool the three points.
Here’s how supporters reacted to the nervy victory on Twitter, Facebook and This Is Anfield’s forums.
Some dissected a crazy match at Anfield…
What a mad game.
Important win, magnificent first half, very sloppy second half. They'll get a rocket from Klopp, which is no bad thing.
— Henry Jackson (@HenryJackson87) October 2, 2019
Fine line between brilliance and arrogance. LFC were the right side of it for first 38 minutes and then the wrong side for the next 22. Got away with it in the end, but a lesson. If there is one club that ought to know a three goal lead is not enough…
— Chris Bascombe (@_ChrisBascombe) October 2, 2019
The focus rightly will be on the defence, but I think plenty of the pressure is created from the midfield. It’s not working and as good as Fabinho is, he’s isolated and tasked with far too much.
— Rory Greenfield (@RoryGreenfield) October 2, 2019
Crazy game!! Comfortable at 3-0 and very unlike us we just didn't push on and made a lot of bad passes and mistakes. Glad to get the 3 points tonight ?#lfc ?
— Peter Phill19s ? (@PeterPhillips_) October 2, 2019
Got away with one there. 2nd half was a shit show in the main.
Regardless of what the manager says post match, he'll be furious with some of that tonight.
— Ian Ryan (@Ian1892T) October 2, 2019
One of the maddest games of football I’ve ever seen. pic.twitter.com/UrmxjF6MS7
— Joel Rabinowitz (@joel_archie) October 2, 2019
Phew. Work to do in this group if we play like that.
— OLSC Raleigh (@LFCRaleigh) October 2, 2019
Three points is the main thing. Lessons to learn from tonight. Especially before a game like Leicester.
— Jack Sear (@JackSear) October 2, 2019
Mané for me is top 3 players in the world and has been for a while. Top top level.
— Cesc Fàbregas Soler (@cesc4official) October 2, 2019
Birthday boy Firmino was hailed for three assists on the night…
https://twitter.com/EnRouteAnfield/status/1179498771245408256?s=20
Firmino man of the match ??
H.B #Liverpool— ?????????????? ???????? (@emanmagdy_1) October 2, 2019
interesting match. some very silly play at times, let them right back in it with poor on-the-ball work and some very lax positional play.
Got the firepower, though. And Bobby.
— Karl Matchett (@karlmatchett) October 2, 2019
Bobby Firmino is forreal the glue to Liverpool’s attack. Surreal- his technical ability that guy!
— Larry G the Great ?? (@larrygaisie) October 2, 2019
Gomez was adjudged to have struggled and Matip was missed…
Second half illustrated the importance of Joel Matip to Liverpool at present. Gomez understandably rusty after minimal games since his return.
— Leanne Prescott (@_lfcleanne) October 2, 2019
Van Dijk and Gomez have been poor tonight, I cannot believe this.
— Samuel (@SamueILFC) October 2, 2019
“The game highlighted the absence of Joel Matip. His pragmatism at the back was sorely missing.”
– Nayel Rahman on Facebook.
We all do it including me ..we give certain players benefit of the doubt over others. But If lovren puts in a performance like Gomez did today there’d be carnage on LFC twitter ..never mind,3 points is all that counts.Not often under Klopp we’ve got complacent like tonight.#LFC
— Grizz Khan (@GrizzKhan) October 2, 2019
“Gomez was so, so, so poor tonight. He was never in a line with the rest of the defence. Positionally all over the place. Hope Matip is fit for the weekend!!”
– Dale Longford on Facebook.
Second half illustrated the importance of Joel Matip to Liverpool at present. Gomez understandably rusty after minimal games since his return.
— Leanne Prescott (@_lfcleanne) October 2, 2019
Salzburg rightly received praise for pushing Liverpool to the limit…
Well then, nice little nostalgic throwback to Klopp’s early reign… Score to concede, concede and score. Reds rusty in parts but got the job done. Credit to Salzburg, they can play. #LFCdigest
— Danny Gallagher (@Danny7Gallagher) October 2, 2019
Jesse Marsch has to be very proud of how his team responded to going down 3-0. His @NewYorkRedBulls team always had a similar identity and can see his imprint on this group too. Top coach. Top guy.
— keith costigan (@KeithCostigan) October 2, 2019
Massive credit to Salzburg. Gave a really impressive account of themselves. Will be a tough away for #LFC and you’d expect them to cause Napoli plenty of problems as well. Could be a much closer group than many thought it would be.
— Leanne Prescott (@_lfcleanne) October 2, 2019
https://twitter.com/simoncollings82/status/1179499445521715202?s=20
Well done Salzburg. The best team Liverpool have played since God knows when. Positive, aggressive, sharp in attack. Some team.
— Sachin Nakrani (@SachinNakrani) October 2, 2019
Biggest takeaway: #LFC don’t want to go to Salzburg on the final matchday needing some sort of result.
— Kristian Walsh (@Kristian_Walsh) October 2, 2019
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