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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
Sport
Alan Galindo

Rangers 1 Liverpool 7 as Champions League dream ends and big injury concerns - 3 things we learned

Rangers' Champions League dream is over after a heavy defeat to Liverpool.

The Ibrox men are now officially out of the competition with two matchdays to play but all is not lost yet with a spot in the Europa League and third place in the group section still to play for. Giovanni van Bronckhorst's men got off to the perfect start with a stunning goal from Scott Arfield but Roberto Firmino showed his class with two goals and a sublime assist as the Reds made it back to back Battle of Britain wins over the Light Blues. Darwin Nunez, Harvey Elliott and a hat-trick off the bench from Mo Salah secured a big 7-1 triumph.

In a double blow, the hosts also lost ever-present Connor Goldson to injury in the first half. The stopper had played every minute of the Champions League and Premiership campaign up until his early departure at Ibrox. Ryan Jack also hobbled off just before the hour mark. Here's three things we learned from Rangers' Group A loss.

Liverpool responded from going a goal down to defeat Rangers at Ibrox in part two of the Battle of Britain (UEFA via Getty Images)

READ MORE: Union Bears display latest Rangers tifo as they go big for Liverpool with full stand effort

Come and Arf a go

There was big shouts from ex-players and pundits during the week for Scott Arfield to start tonight at Ibrox after being an unused sub at Anfield.

Giovanni Van Bronckhorst put the midfielder in to the Rangers starting XI and he delivered.

The former Burnley man superbly fired past Alisson Becker to give the Ibrox men the lead after 17 minutes.

If you thought the noise was loud before, that all important first goal raised the roof even more.

It wasn't to be as Liverpool turned the tie on its head in a huge comeback win, but Arfield has done his chances no harm of a regular start in Van Bronckhorst's side.

Injury concern

A major worry to come out of tonight's game was Connor Goldson limping off at the end of the first half.

The Rangers stopper has been an ever-present during his time at Ibrox and is a key man for Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side.

Ben Davies has only returned from injury after his summer move from Liverpool with young Leon King and James Sands the other options who can play at the heart of the defence.

Fingers will be crossed it is nothing serious with big games both domestically and in Europe to come.

Ryan Jack was also forced off just before the hour in a second blow to the hots.

Eur out

Rangers are officially out of the Champions League - like Old Firm rivals Celtic.

Liverpool recorded a massive comeback win after Scott Arfield had sent Ibrox wild with 17 minutes on the clock.

But Roberto Firmino's double coupled up with a six minute hat-trick off the bench from Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott solo strikes secured three points for the visitors to leave the Light Blues bottom of the group with zero points.

It's not all lost for the Ibrox men yet with the Europa League still a possibility with big games to come against Napoli and Ajax.

READ NEXT:

- Napoli hand Rangers European progress chance as Champions League Plan B kept alive by Ajax dumping

- Ben Doak stuns Rangers as Celtic academy product scores Liverpool wondergoal to halt home comeback

- VAR gets SPFL start date after tests 'in every Premiership stadium' leads to early arrival

- Celtic and Rangers handed Champions League 'different level' assessment by BT pundit Rio Ferdinand

- Joe Cole makes 'great' Celtic and Rangers admission but concedes 'difference of quality' in UCL

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