Liverpool issued the perfect response to their defeat by Arsenal by turning on the style in their Champions League meeting with Rangers yesterday evening.
There was nothing to separate the sides at the break, though the Reds scored six times without reply after half-time to seal a resounding 7-1 victory. Mohamed Salah (3), Roberto Firmino (2), Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott were all on target for Jurgen Klopp's side, who ruthlessly blew away their Scottish opponents.
Rangers fans held hopes the Ibrox crowd could inspire them to a win over Liverpool, though a number of supporters began to head for the exit doors as the goals flew in during the second half.
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Those reporting on the match found it an equally tough watch, as highlighted by how the Scottish media reacted to the Gers crashing out of Europe's elite competition.
'Machine gunned in a second-half blitz'
Keith Jackson of the Daily Record wrote:
"At least this time there were shots fired.
"The only trouble was, long before this bruising Battle of Britain beating was over, almost all of them were flying at will beyond Allan McGregor and into the Rangers net. Yes, Rangers made a decent fist of it for 45 minutes. They even took an early lead when Scott Arfield scored their first goal of an otherwise pretty wretched Champions League group campaign. But just when it seemed as if they might salvage some pride from this performance, they were machine gunned in a second-half blitz that robbed them of whatever dignity they had left on their way through Group A’s trapdoor and out of the competition. Roberto Firmino stole the show with an individual display sprinkled with magic dust.
"Then Mo Salah came off the bench to finish off the job with a hat-trick in little more than six second-half minutes as a humbling defeat turned into an utter annihilation. Darwin Nunez pinched one in between times and then, in the dying moments, Harvey Elliott helped himself to Liverpool’s seventh. It was brutal. It was merciless. And it completed a campaign of misery for Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who could scarcely believe what he was witnessing as his team were being butchered."
'Complete embarrassment'
Alan Pattullo of the Scotsman wrote:
"Rangers should still not be conceding seven goals. Not to anyone. And certainly not at Ibrox, where so many had confidently predicted it would be a different story for shaky, unsure Liverpool.
"It verged on a complete embarrassment and become one when teenager Harvey Elliott’s volley was deemed to be onside after a VAR check. And unlike against Napoli, when they lost three second half goals, Rangers had eleven men.
"Klopp clearly had one eye on the clash with Manchester City – and what some would contend was the real Battle of Britain – on Sunday, with Salah one of three players dropped to the bench. The manager was also clearly trying to freshen things up after a period of troubling form."
'The anger at the whistle told its own story'
Christopher Jack of the Glasgow Evening Times wrote:
This campaign has shown that Rangers are not a Champions League team. They will do well to be a Europa League one now.
The lessons learned at this level are harsh and unforgiving. It is a tough school and Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side once again found themselves outclassed by Liverpool.
This was an embarrassing, lamentable evening for Rangers. Questions will be asked and the answers will see the finger of blame pointed in many different directions.
Rangers finally have a goal to their credit in Group A but 16 have now been shipped in a woeful few weeks. Sitting bottom of the section with no points from four fixtures is a predicament they are unlikely to get themselves out of.
The anger at the whistle told its own story. This is a club that doesn’t accept losing and being so second best, regardless of the opposition, will not be tolerated by a support that don’t need many reasons to voice their concerns or their fury.
'Total capitulation'
Ewan Paton of the Herald wrote:
"What a difference one half of football makes. Before the break, for the most part, Rangers looked comfortable against the Premier League giants. While they never really cut the Reds open, they carried a threat throughout and obviously got their early rewards through Scott Arfield.
"The second-half was a story of total capitulation for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side. The only word that can be used to describe the result for Rangers is embarrassing. Liverpool will thump better teams than Rangers, let’s be clear. However, to completely fall apart like they did was shambolic. There are manners in which to lose a game. This was not one of them. The fans will demand answers – no matter how good Liverpool are."
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