Rangers vs Liverpool LIVE: Champions League result and final score after Mohamed Salah hits record hat-trick
Rangers 1-7 Liverpool: Scott Arfield’s opener had Ibrox rocking but Firmino’s double sparked a remarkable turnaround, as Salah scored the fastest hat-trick in Champions League history
Mohamed Salah scored a hat-trick in just six minutes as Liverpool came from behind to thrash Rangers at Ibrox, as the Scottish side were eliminated from the Champions League in the group stages.
A double from Roberto Firmino turned the match around to ease the pressure on Liverpool after Scott Arfield gave Rangers the perfect start and had Ibrox rocking when he fired past Alisson.
But Firmino then silenced the home crowd with a simple equaliser from a corner before the Brazilian struck his second as he tucked an excellent cross from Joe Gomez past Allan McGregor. Firmino then turned provider to set up Darwin Nunez, who slotted in Liverpool’s third.
It went from bad to worse for Rangers as Salah came off the bench to score the fastest ever Champions League hat-trick, while Harvey Elliott added a seventh, providing a boost to Liverpool’s confidence ahead of Sunday’s clash against Manchester City.
Follow all the reaction as Liverpool put seven past Rangers in the Champions League:
Rangers vs Liverpool
Here come the teams!
The players make their way out onto the pitch at Ibrox. Rangers know they’ll be heading out of the Champions League if they lose. Liverpool will need just one point from their last two games to reach the knockouts if they win.
Kick off is up next...
Group A standings
In the early kick off tonight Napoli have defeated Ajax 4-2 to extend their lead at the top of Group A with a perfect 12 points from their four games.
The Italian side are already through to the knockout stages now but Liverpool will remain in touch with them if they win tonight.
Rangers will be eliminated from the Champions League if they lose.
Rangers vs Liverpool
15 minutes to go until kick off, which way is this one going to go tonight?
‘Our approach will be different’
Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst has promised that his team’s approach to tonight’s Champions League clash with Liverpool will be different and that the Scottish side will look to create more chances as they hunt for their first Champions League points of the season.
“We have to find more moments in the game when we can be dangerous,” he said, “Of course our approach will be different because we need points to hopefully play after the break in Europe. But, we are still going to be up against a very good side.
“We want to be able to proceed in Europe when we play our last game at home against Ajax. Hopefully we are in a situation where, with a good result, we can continue.
“We need to get points. Ideally three points and we have to see the other results.”
Ageing Liverpool fighting Father Time as well as faltering form
It is a Champions League double header for clubs connected by European Cup-winning captains. Graeme Souness and Steven Gerrard both lifted the trophy Liverpool prize most and managed Rangers. If Wednesday’s tie at Ibrox is part of Gerrard’s legacy, considering Rangers’ improvement in his tenure, Souness may assume a greater pertinence, given Liverpool’s plight.
His reign at Anfield was both controversial and unsuccessful but the backdrop was difficult. Souness returned to Merseyside as manager in 1991 and inherited an ageing team. His attempts at rejuvenation, and his signings of players such as Dean Saunders, Paul Stewart, Julian Dicks, Mark Walters, Nigel Clough and Neil Ruddock, backfired. Souness correctly identified a problem. In trying to solve it, he made Liverpool worse.
That may feel a theme now. It was Souness, rather than Sir Alex Ferguson, who Jamie Carragher argued knocked Liverpool off their perch; it was Jurgen Klopp who returned them there, making them champions in 2020, three decades after Kenny Dalglish’s final triumph, a year before Souness came in and started clearing out Peter Beardsley, Steve Staunton, Steve McMahon and Ray Houghton.
Ageing Liverpool fighting Father Time as well as faltering form
Rangers vs Liverpool: Ageing Reds fighting Father Time as well as faltering form
Salah closing in on record
Mohamed Salah has scored 35 Champions League goals for Liverpool - only Didier Drogba (36 for Chelsea) and Sergio Aguero (36 for Manchester City) have scored more for a Premier League side in the competition.
If he wants to join them tonight, he’ll have to do so from off the bench.
Rangers’ Champions League record
Of the 45 teams to have played at least 50 games in the Champions League, only Anderlecht (16.7%) have a lower win rate than Rangers (18.5% - 12 wins in 65 games).
Set piece specialists
Three of Liverpool’s five Champions League goals this season have come from set-pieces (one corner, one direct free-kick, one penalty), with both of their goals against Rangers coming via this method.
Liverpool won’t be able to sign Jude Bellingham, Ian Wright believes
Ian Wright does not believe that Liverpool will be able to convince Jude Bellingham to sign for the club and thinks that Jurgen Klopp’s side find themselves in a “precarious postion”.
Bellingham has been linked with a move away from Borussia Dortmund after beginning the season in excellent form and establishing himself as one of Europe’s most coveted young midfielders.
The 19-year-old has been connected with Liverpool, who are seeking long-term solutions in a midfield struggling for fitness and form during a tough start to their Premier League campaign.
Wright has warned the club that they must overcome a “transitional period” and finish in the top four to have any hope of persuading Bellingham to join them ahead of other, more successful suitors.
Liverpool won’t be able to sign Jude Bellingham, Ian Wright believes
The club have been connected with a move for the Borussia Dortmund midfielder
Rangers at Ibrox
Rangers have lost six of their last eight home games in the Champions League (with one win and one draw), including a 3-0 defeat to Napoli in their only one so far this season.
Furthermore, they have only scored four goals in their last nine home games in the competition and never more than once in a game in this period.
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