Liverpool 4-0 (4-1 aggregate) Galatasaray: The Reds once again had Mo Salah at their heart as they reached the Champions League quarter-finals with relative ease.
Mo Salah is now well back in form (Image: Getty Images)
He stood up to accept Kop’s praise, flashing his biggest smile of the season as he pointed to the Liverpool crest on his jersey. Not only have Liverpool pushed their way to the last eight of the Champions League, but they also have Mohamed Salah back.
They brought back the record-breaking, unparalleled, unstoppable Mohamed Salah. On one memorable night, his breakthrough comeback culminated in a goal he celebrated in front of the Kop, changing the mood of a club that had been heading into decline.
When Liverpool players last left this arena, it was to a soundtrack of dissent and discontent. Seventy-two hours later, amidst the hustle and bustle of hope and anticipation, they entered it.
In terms of commitment, there was a good response, but it was debatable whether the ferocity of the home team’s approach justified Galatasaray’s heavy casualties. As expected, this dramatic performance infuriated Liverpool’s staff and supporters, but it should have been a signal of encouragement.
If players are wasting time after the first whistle, it shows they lack the confidence to actually increase their advantage. In terms of football, they have already won twice this season and have no intention of backing down, even against an opponent who has been plagued by defensive uncertainty lately.
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So for Liverpool, the equation was simple. A draw was possible if composure and commitment were matched.
Then, the first truly calm play provided the breakthrough. Alexis Mac Allister timed a well-timed corner kick and Dominik Szoboszlai met his pass with something familiar in its sweetness but unusual in that it flew off his left boot.
In the Premier League, there is no better striker on the ball, and the more common right-footed player immediately produced a very decent save from the Ugurka Chakir, who also denied Salah’s chip with his fingertips.
However, Szoboszlai, who had returned to his position in midfield where he should never be moved, was made unplayable and drew a foul from Ismail Jacobs, which should have given Liverpool an overall advantage at half-time.
Sadly, Salah picked out poor guy Panenka from the penalty spot and Cakir parried it away. The indignant look on Soboszlai’s face said it all.
Salah and Szoboszlai shine in the match against Türkiye (Image: Getty Images)
If you hadn’t actually watched the first 50 minutes, you might be tempted to think that might have been the turning point in the draw.
But such is Galatasaray’s disastrously ambitious approach that it took a huge leap of imagination to see them cause serious problems for the home side.
And anyone with that imagination was soon corrected, with a beautiful assist and volley from Hugo Ekitike leading to Salah’s stunning recovery, leaving Cakir with no choice but to parry it at the feet of Ryan Gravenbirch, who calmly converted to number three.
And, unsurprisingly, Salah curled in for his 50th Champions League goal, earning praise from the Kop. Salah was tearing them apart.
The night was touted as one where the Istanbul side, who arrived with a one-goal lead, could infuriate Liverpool, but instead it turned into Turkey’s shot.
Paris Saint-Germain will have an even tougher test in the quarter-finals, but this was exactly the rise that Slott, Liverpool and, most importantly, Salah needed.
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