In what was undoubtedly Liverpool’s most complete performance of the season, they delighted in demolishing Turkish champions, Galatasaray, 4-0. Goals from Dominik Szoboszlai, Hugo Ekitike, Mo Salah, and Ryn Gravenberch secured their 29th European quarter-final.
For one of the few times this season, Liverpool played with an intensity and, dare it be said, desire that has been too often sorely lacking. Swarming all over Galatasaray from the very first whistle, on the front foot and conducting the sort of ‘heavy metal’ football associated with Jurgen Klopp, they went ahead through Szoboszlai on 25 minutes. A corner routine was ruthlessly despatched with his left foot after Liverpool had failed to take advantage of their early dominance.
They should have gone 2-0 up on the stroke of half-time, but Salah fluffed his penalty kick. If anyone felt that miss might just come back to bite Slot’s men, two goals early in the second half soon dispelled any nerves. First, Ekitike scored from close range, before Salah more than redeemed himself. His trademark left-foot finish, high to the keeper’s right, was his 50th Champions League goal, and he becomes the top-scoring African in the history of the competition.
Galatasaray, having taken every opportunity to waste time by collapsing to the floor after just about every challenge, were abysmal. Yet in trying to kill the momentum in the game, they themselves suffered most. Having lost Osimhen to injury, who had offered very little as a lone striker, they continued to offer little threat, and it became a question of just how many Liverpool would score.
Three up and totally dominant, their fourth came through Gravenberch. A left-foot finish came after Cakir in goal had repelled a close-range Salah effort. In truth, Cakir kept the score respectable, though Liverpool, despite scoring four, were at times very wasteful in front of goal.
Next up in the competition, Liverpool will face champions PSG. They cannot afford to drop their standards from this ruthless display and will need to be near perfect against the French league leaders. For now, however, Slot’s job, which may well have been on the line had his team not progressed to the last eight, is to ensure they turn up at Brighton on Saturday with the same level of energy, intent, and desire. If not, Champions League football next season may slip from their grasp.
