Liverpool defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 away in the Champions League on Wednesday night, ending a four-game losing streak. The Premier League champions actually lost their fifth game in a row 1-0 as Rasmus Christensen’s shot hit the post in the 26th minute. However, by the 44th minute Liverpool were leading 3-1 in Germany. Hugo Ekitike wrapped up the counter-attack with a composed finish to bring the Reds level against his former club.
Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate scored headers from corner kicks to put the visitors in complete control. Goals from Kodi Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai in the second half saw Arne Slott’s side bounce back from a ferocious spell in strong style. Express Sport rates and predicts Liverpool players…
Liverpool player ratings vs Eintracht Frankfurt
Giorgi Mamadashvili – 6
Jean-Mateo Bajoya made some good saves early on, but could not get close to Christensen’s shot. There was little to do after that.
Jeremy Frimpong – 5
A sluggish start to his Liverpool career hit another hurdle with a new muscle injury, which saw him forced off after 19 minutes.
Ibrahima Konate – 7
After wasting many header opportunities this season, he scored his first goal of the season from a corner kick to make it 3-1. He defended well before being sent off early for the break.
Virgil van Dijk – 7
Liverpool took the lead with a brilliant header, more certain than their uncharacteristically erratic display against Manchester United.
Andy Robertson – 7
He should have blocked Christensen’s shot, but he made a brilliant first pass to Ekitike to make it 1-1, and sent in some better passes than his left-back rival Milos Kerkes.
Curtis Jones – 7
He handled the ball well and helped give Liverpool the control in midfield that they have sorely lacked of late. He completed a record 122 passes. We should start now.
Dominik Szoboszlai – 9
He is active everywhere, on and off the ball, and is currently Liverpool’s MVP. He was probably out of position for Frankfurt’s goal, but assisted Konate’s header. He blocked possession and perfectly set up Gakpo’s goal by slipping past Wirtz and making it 5-1 with a pinpoint low shot from distance.
Florian Wirtz – 8
He lost the ball too quietly in the build-up to the Frankfurt goal, but he reacted and helped press Konate’s header into the corner. After setting up chances that Federico Chiesa and Szoboszlai couldn’t convert, he earned a much-needed assist with some deft running and a cross to Gakpo. Szoboszlai then teed it up for a strike and earned his second assist.
Hugo Ekitike – 7
He made a sensational run and scored the equaliser, his sixth goal in 12 appearances for Liverpool. There were some sharp touches on the outside of that before an early withdrawal. At this point, it’s too good to start the game on the bench.
Alexander Isaac – 5
They had a big chance to make it 1-0 within the first 10 minutes, but were forced to make a save at the near post. Other than that it was pretty quiet and I was sent off at half-time. He has not yet insisted that he absolutely has to start the game.
Kodi Gakpo – 8
He scored in three games in a row and assisted Van Dijk’s header with a great corner kick. We also created chances for Bradley and Ekitike. A solid performance from the Dutch player.
substitute
Conor Bradley (Frimpong 19) – 7
Early introduction after Frimpong’s injury. His header was well saved and he made a great block to thwart Behoya’s attack. In the second half, his shot hit the post. It was the show he needed to gain confidence.
Federico Chiesa (Isaac 46) – 6
He spent a deserved 45 minutes and almost took an acrobatic shot in the corner. He played hard off the ball, but his late shot hit the keeper.
Mohamed Salah (Ekitike 74) – 6
Surprisingly, he was dropped from the starting lineup. He looked sharper and had some shots, but Wirtz should have gone for the tap-in.
Alexis Mac Allister (Gakpo 74) – 6
Like Salah, he has been on the bench due to poor form recently. Like Salah, he looked better in a secondary cameo role.
Joe Gomez (Konate 75) – 6
There is some time needed on the legs.
