Liverpool 2-0 Rangers: Comfortable win with a goal from Alexander-Arnold and a penalty from Salah

Back to the wins and the (very) good performances for Liverpool! Jurgen Klopp’s side dominated against Rangers all game, reducing their opponents to a supporting role to take a 2-0 lead in the final after Alexander-Arnold’s direct free-kick (6th) and Salah’s good timing had scored a penalty (53.) and thus gets his second win in the first three games of the Champions League group stage.

The match

Liverpool were determined to score a quick goal that would put them in the driver’s seat early and they found it in the 7th minute, with the player most scrutinized for his (troubled) performances of late . That was Alexander-Arnold, who, as the right-back for Jürgen Klopp’s team, scored the 1-0 with an exemplary direct free kick and celebrated his 6th goal in the red jersey.

In the ensuing minutes the Reds pressed, losing very good chances with Dias and Salah until 15 minutes to up the ante once more after completing the first half with Nunes leading their attacking efforts but finding McGregor rolling down the reels ( six interventions in the first part).

Somehow it stayed 1-0 until the end of the first half, a result that didn’t do a very good Liverpool justice and flattered Rangers, who never threatened and conceded double-digit finishing chances to their opponents.

The picture stayed the same and unchanged in the second half as Liverpool got back into action and didn’t take long to find the second goal. That happened in the 53rd minute when Diaz won a penalty from a turnover and Salah took over to make it 2-0, effectively sealing the treble for his side.

This was the Egyptian’s 35th Champions League goal (second on the relevant list of goalscorers for English teams in the Champions League, behind only Agüero and Drogba, who scored 36 goals). Liverpool then controlled the game to secure a comfortable win that had more than 20 last tries against a Rangers side that only looked aggressive in the last five minutes.

In the final she could have found a goal with her two good chances but first Tsimikas impressively saved Matodo’s shot before the ball crossed the end line and later in the stage Alisson stopped Tsolak’s shot to seal Liverpool’s 2-0 which consolidated them in 2nd place in the group standings and +3 from third-placed Ajax.

LIVERPOOL: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold (90′ Gomez), Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Henderson (69′ Fabinho), Thiago (80′ Milner), Salah, Zota (69′ Firmino), Diaz, Nunes (80′ Elliott)

RANGER: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Davies (66′ Jack), King, Barisic, Lunstrom, Davies (81′ Kamara), Tillman (66′ Sakala), Kent (81′ Matodo), Morelos (73′ Tsolak)

The results of the 3rd round:

• Ajax – Naples 1-6 (9′ Kountous / 18′ 47′ Raspadori, 33′ Di Lorenzo, 45′ Zielinski, 63′ Kvaratschelia, 81′ Simeone)
• Liverpool – Rangers 2-0 (7′ Alexander Arnold, 53′ Penalty Salah)

The placings of the 1st group:

The game plan for the 4th matchday:

• 10.12. 19:45 Naples – Ajax
• 10.12. 22:00 Rangers-Liverpool