Emre Can double helps see Liverpool confidently through to Champions League group stages
Liverpool 4 Hoffenheim 2 (Agg 6-3): Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah also found the back of the net as the Reds' front line ran riot at Anfield
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Liverpool will not forage amongst the wastes from the Thursday night buffet that is the Europa League and instead, Jürgen Klopp’s team will take their place at the continent’s top football table once again.
Progression to the Champions League group stages was sealed inside the opening 21 minutes thanks largely to haste and skill of Sadio Mané, who did not score in the period but assisted with two of Liverpool’s three goals.
It always seems to be ifs with Liverpool but if they keep their front three fit this season, if they keep Philippe Coutinho from the tentacles of Barcelona and he ends up supplying the passes for Mané and if Liverpool simply let in fewer soft goals, their chances of winning silverware will increase dramatically. They are big ifs.
Perhaps only a misery would be critical when Liverpool are so explosive going forward but Hoffenheim’s goals here were the type you’d now routinely expect Liverpool to concede: one where their two centre backs end up facing their own ‘keeper, another a free header inside the box from a cross.
This had been a different type of test for Liverpool, one where the context behind the tie would not necessarily result in the mood inside Anfield bristling and being at its most belligerent, when there is a sense something needs to be overturned; those occasions when the power of the stadium is too much for even the most celebrated opponents.
Liverpool held a lead going into this second leg having scored twice in Germany last week. Considering Liverpool had never been eliminated from Europe after winning a first leg away from home on 33 occasions, considering too Liverpool had played German teams 18 times at Anfield and had never lost, they were expected to win here against a capable side in Hoffenheim – one, indeed, with only 90 minutes of European football behind them in their entire history.
Hoffenheim had to score a minimum of two goals to have any chance of progressing and there were early signs that this factor would open space as a consequence. Hoffenheim’s coach Julius Nagelsmann is younger than James Milner and his approach was a bold one that on another night, could have contributed towards three goals for his team inside the opening half hour. Instead, because of Serge Gnabry's hurried finishing, Hoffenheim would only score once during that phase, critically conceding three.
This was a portrait of Liverpool in the period 2012-2017: so exhilarating in attack, you fall in love with them all over again; then so brittle defensively, you doubt whether they have the foundations to win anything.
Emre Can registered Liverpool’s goal number one and number three and each build-up involved the speed and mind of Mané, who raced away from his markers twice before releasing a team-mate with a back heel. In between, Mohamed Salah poked in the rebound after Georginio Wijnaldum’s side footed effort had struck a post.
In reality, the Champions League is not a competition that has glorious stories painted by the very youngest managers. In appearance alone, 30-year-old Nagelsmann could pass for a slightly mature university student. He surely must have known of the risks when choosing a high defensive line against a Klopp attack with such pace but at least he had the common sense to admit his decision was the wrong one and make a change. For that he was rewarded because within minutes of replacing Havard Nordveit and switching from a back three to a back four, substitute Mark Uth had fired past Simon Mignolet in front of the Kop to make it 3-1.
Klopp’s was illustrating his every trait inside and out of the technical area, celebrating with the crowd in the good moments and screaming at his players in the bad. Jordan Henderson, his captain, was the recipient of a barrage of abuse when Uth’s shot flew in but accordingly, he received praise from the Liverpool manager after pressing high to dispossess Kevin Vogt and secure the victory on the hour mark by passing to Firmino, leaving the Brazilian staring at an empty net. From there, he could not miss. Though Sandro Wanger’s late header reminded of their frailties, Liverpool were through.
Liverpool (4-3-3): Mignolet; Alexander-Arnold (Gomez 65), Matip, Lovren, Moreno; Can (Milner 70), Henderson, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane (Klavan 90). Subs: Karius, Sturridge, Robertson, Solanke.
Hoffenheim (3-4-3): Baumann; Nordveit (Uth 34), Vogt, Hubner; Kaderabek (Tolkan 64), Geiger, Demirbay, St. Zuber; Kramaric, Wagner, Gnabry (Szalai 57). Subs: Kobel, Bicakcic, Rupp, Polanski.
Referee: Daniele Orsato (Italy)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments