Liverpool smashed Rangers 7-1 to move to the brink of qualifying from their Champions League group as Mohamed Salah hit a stunning second-half hat-trick.
A typically vociferous Ibrox reception welcomed the two teams on Wednesday night with Liverpool chasing three points that would all-but seal their passage to the last-16 - and the hosts without a point.
In fact, not since Kenny Miller netted a first-half opener away to Bursaspor in November 2010 had Rangers scored a Champions League goal before Scott Arfield broke the Reds’ line in the 17th minute to drill home an opener.
It was a goal of class, built by Ryan Jack’s precise through ball, that befitted a strong opening from both sides as the Gers pressed hard and Liverpool pinged around a smart possession game. Although, there was little evidence of that when Joe Gomez played a sloppy backpass towards goalkeeper Alisson Becker that Antonio Colak failed to make the most of.
With Mohamed Salah and Thiago Alcantara rested on the bench, amid a plethora of injuries, the visitors’ biggest problem was a lack of cutting edge up front.
However, a savvy moment of set-piece play levelled the scores on 24 minutes. Kostas Tsimikas whipped a corner towards the near post where Roberto Firmino outmuscled James Tavernier to nod home the equaliser.
Rangers refused to crack despite being pegged back and having a notch knocked off Ibrox’s volume. A scrappy period was punctured by a number of strong Ibrahima Konate headers clear from balls into the box.
On the verge of the break, the towering defender produced a fine block to deny Arfield after Fashion Sakala had escaped Tsimikas down the right flank.
The pace, if anything, quickened in the second half as Virgil van Dijk flew in a vital clearance for a knockdown to Jack before Liverpool grabbed the lead.
Gomez, playing at right-back for the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold, raced down the right and put in a perfect cross to beat substitute defender Leon King and find Firmino. Five yards out, the in-form Brazilian calmly slotted home to put Liverpool ahead with just over half an hour to play.
On 66 minutes, the game was well and truly up for Rangers as their flattest spell of the game was punctuated by a third for the visitors.
Alan McGregor’s poor kick clear landed at Fabinho’s feet and Fabio Carvalho played in Firmino, who produced a samba-style flick to tee up Nunez for a finish into the bottom corner and 3-1.
There was still time for Salah to come off the bench, collect a looping ball and toe-poke a finish past McGregor as the Rangers faithful began to head for the exits.
6 minutes and 12 second hat-trick for Mo Salah after coming off the bench 🤯
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 12, 2022
Unbelievable.#UCL pic.twitter.com/9zt4UeFSX2
Inside a Champions League record of six minutes and 12 seconds, he had not two but three goals after picking a gaping hole in McGregor’s goal to net at the near post before a trademark curler into the far corner.
Ten minutes were still on the clock and a seventh appeared more than likely as Rangers huffed and puffed. Indeed, Harvey Elliott popped up to bag his first Champions League goal at a rebound from Diogo Jota’s miss - a goal confirmed by VAR after the flag had initially gone up.
The full-time whistle confirmed the inevitable as Rangers were knocked out with two games left, in which Liverpool only require a point to confirm their palce in the last-16.
