Substitute Mo Salah grabbed the fastest hat-trick in Champions League history as Liverpool thrashed Rangers 7-1 to complete a double over the beleagured Light Blues.
Jurgen Klopp's side had cantered to a 2-0 win over a tentative Gers side at Anfield last Tuesday but there was initially more fight about the Gers this time and they took the lead in the 17th minute with a Scott Arfield drive. Last season's finalists responded seven minutes later when Brazilian attacker Roberto Firmino headed in from a corner before grabbing a second in the 55th minute as the visitors' superior quality came to the fore.
Striker Darwin Nunez added a third with a fine finish in the 66th minute before Salah grabbed three goals in six minutes and 12 seconds with Harvey Elliott notching as Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side crumbled. It was not so much a Battle of Britain as a massacre and the Govan side remain rooted at the bottom of Group A without a point.
Liverpool are six points clear of Ajax and three behind leaders Napoli with two fixtures remaining. Here's how the players rated
ALISSON BECKER: The Brazillian must have been bracing himself for a busy night when Arfield fired past him but that was as good as it got for Gers. 6
JOE GOMEZ: Lucky to get away with a blind pass back to his keeper but pulled off a cross Trent Alexander-Arnold would have been proud off for Firmino’s second. 7
IBRAHIMA KONATE: Rangers might wonder what might have happened had the big Frenchman not got his boot in the way of Arfield’s effort just before half-time. 7
VIRGIL VAN DIJK: This was the former Celtic man’s first look at Ibrox but he had no problem handling the boos. Got a timely tackle before Jack could take aim. 7
KOSTAS TSIMIKAS: Wicked corner delivery from Andy Robertson’s understudy helped bring Reds level but won’t have enjoyed facing Sakala. 7
HARVEY ELLIOTT: Easy to see see why Klopp has such faith in the England youth ace. Full of energy with an eye for a pass. Deserved goal put the seal on a nightmare evening for Gers. 8
JORDAN HENDERSON: The Reds captain failed to track Arfield’s run for the opener and had a couple of other ragged moments before he was replaced. 6
FABINHO: The versatile Brazilian was back in midfield after his stint in defence last week. Mostly kept it tidy as Liverpool patently waited for their chance to pounce. 6
ROBERTO FIRMINO: Not known as a prolific scorer but the classy Brazilian’s clinical double and a cheeky dink for Nunez’s goal did the damage to Rangers. 8
DARWIN NUNEZ : Couldn’t get the better of Connor Goldson but found the space to score once the Englishman was forced off. 7
FABIO CARVALHO: The summer signing from Fulham was robbed by Tavernier as Rangers struck first. Had a hand in third as Liverpool ran riot late on. 6
SUBS
THIAGO ALCANTARA: On to help Liverpool turn the screw. 4
MO SALAH: Off the bench to produce a sensational six minute hat-trick. 9
ANDY ROBERTSON: Hoops-daft Scotland skipper would have enjoyed his late cameo. 3
JAMES MILNER: Fresh legs as Rangers fell apart 3
