Liverpool emphatically bounced back from a run of four consecutive defeats with a commanding 5–1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League, despite talisman Mohamed Salah once again starting on the bench.
Former Leeds defender Rasmus Kristensen gave the hosts an early lead in the 26th minute, finishing off a sharp attacking move to stun the Premier League champions. But Arne Slot’s side responded in style, scoring three times in the space of nine minutes before halftime.
Hugo Ekitike — facing his former club — levelled the score after being set up by Andy Robertson, showing great composure to slot home in the 35th minute. Captain Virgil van Dijk then powered in a header from a corner, followed by fellow defender Ibrahima Konaté, who made it 3–1 just before the break.
The Reds continued their dominance in the second half, even after Alexander Isak was withdrawn at halftime with a groin injury. Florian Wirtz provided the assist for Cody Gakpo to add a fourth in the 66th minute, before Dominik Szoboszlai’s long-range strike four minutes later sealed a much-needed morale-boosting win.
Ekitike, named Player of the Match, led the line brilliantly, while Slot praised his team’s clinical finishing from set-pieces , an area that had troubled them in recent weeks. Salah came on for the final 15 minutes but failed to end his six-game goal drought.
Liverpool remain unbeaten in their last 15 meetings with German sides in European competition, winning their last six by an aggregate score of 17–2. The result leaves Eintracht with a bizarre record, all three of their Champions League games this season have finished 5–1.
Next up, Liverpool travel to Brentford in the Premier League, aiming to build on this resurgent display.
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