Liverpool vs Rangers LIVE: Champions League result, final score and reaction
Liverpool host Rangers in a Champions League group stage clash at Anfield
In the clash of the clubs from the banks of the Mersey and the Clyde, the real winner was Trent. The under pressure right-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold, set Liverpool on a path to victory they were expected to get. Perhaps he effected a swift transformation from scapegoat to top dog and certainly his celebration of a cathartic goal had an air of vindication.
Whether his brilliant free kick was an eloquent response to criticism or simply a demonstration of the gifts that make him a unique right-back, it brought him respite on an evening that ended not with another inquest, but a standing ovation.
For Liverpool, too, it was a restorative affair with Mohamed Salah adding a second with nonchalant ease. A continental campaign that began with the nadir of their worst performance under Jurgen Klopp now looks on course to conclude somewhere in the knockout stages. Napoli’s win over Ajax helps position Liverpool to qualify, if not win Group A, and they can plan for the return trip to Ibrox next week in greater need of points in the Premier League then the Champions League.
Relive the action from the Champions League as Liverpool defeated Rangers at Anfield:
Mohamed Salah helps Liverpool ease to Champions League win over Rangers
In the clash of the clubs from the banks of the Mersey and the Clyde, the real winner was Trent. Mohamed Salah scored with nonchalant ease but Trent Alexander-Arnold set Liverpool on a path to victory they were expected to get. Perhaps he effected a swift transformation from scapegoat to top dog and certainly his celebration of a cathartic goal had an air of vindication.
Whether a brilliant free kick was an eloquent response to criticism or simply a demonstration of the gifts that make him a unique right-back, it brought him respite on an evening that ended not with another inquest, but a standing ovation.
For Liverpool, too, it was a restorative affair. A continental campaign that began with the nadir of their worst performance under Jurgen Klopp now looks on course to conclude somewhere in the knockout stages. Napoli’s win over Ajax helps position Liverpool to qualify, if not win Group A, and they can plan for the return trip to Ibrox next week in greater need of points in the Premier League then the Champions League.
Mohamed Salah helps Liverpool ease to Champions League win over Rangers
Liverpool 2-0 Rangers: Salah sealed the win from the spot after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s early free-kick
FT Liverpool 2-0 Rangers
Mo Salah got in on the goalscoring action by converting a penalty won by Luis Diaz. Can he go on to transfer that form into the Premier League this weekend.
FT Liverpool 2-0 Rangers
Over in Group D Tottenham have taken a point away from Eintracht Frankfurt. That game ended 0-0 and wasn’t the most thrilling performance from Spurs.
Antonio Conte’s men remain second in that group and will be hoping for a more positive result when they’re back in London next week.
Full-time: Liverpool 2-0 Rangers
90+4 mins: Liverpool get the win! They take all three points and remain second in Group A after Napoli’s 6-1 demolition of Ajax in the other fixture tonight.
Rangers go three games without scoring in the Champions League but they’ll have another chance when Liverpool head to Ibrox next week.
That’s a confidence building win for Liverpool who, in truth, never looked like losing that game.
Liverpool 2-0 Rangers
90+2 mins: After Milner wins the ball, Liverpool send it up to Mo Salah who is in bags of space. He carries the ball into the box and rolls it onto his left foot but curling an effort straight into the arms of Allan McGregor.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is given a decent round of applause from the Liverpool supporters as he comes off for Joe Gomez.
Liverpool 2-0 Rangers
90 mins: Four minutes of added time to play at Anfield. Jurgen Klopp is preparing another change with Joe Gomez ready to come on.
Colak hangs onto the ball too long on the edge of the Liverpool box and gets tackled by a lunging James Milner.
Liverpool 2-0 Rangers
87 mins: Close! There’s a bit of life in Rangers as Rabbi Matondo breezes into the box from the left and nutmegs Alisson with a side-footed shot.
Fashion Sakala is arriving at the back post to tap it home but Kostas Tsimikas tracks back and lifts it over the crossbar!
The resultant corner drops to Antonio Colak who drills one at goal but Alisson sticks out his left leg and keeps it out too.
Liverpool 2-0 Rangers
84 mins: Chance! Liverpool win a corner that gets whipped into the middle of the box. It shoots over the head of Virgil van Dijk but drops to Joel Matip who leaps over Leon King.
He wins the header but sends it narrowly wide of the back post!
Liverpool 2-0 Rangers
81 mins: Thiago Alcantara and Darwin Nunez are taken off by Jurgen Klopp with Harvey Elliott and James Milner brought on. This is Milner’s 300th appearance for the Reds.
Ryan Kent and Ben Davies are also off for Rangers with Glen Kamara and Rabbi Matondo brought on.
Less than 10 minutes ot play at Anfield.
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