"Liverpool breezed into the Champions League last-16 stage after hammering Qarabag 6-0 at Anfield. Arne Slot's side secured automatic qualification with ease by finishing third in the league phase, while Qarabag's thrashing still saw them into the knockout-stage play-offs, where they will face either Paris Saint-Germain or Newcastle United. Hugo Ekitike fired an early warning shot just wide of the bottom-left corner 12 minutes in, and Liverpool surged into control soon after."
"Alexis Mac Allister was on hand to bundle home Virgil van Dijk's flick-on from Dominik Szoboszlai's deflected corner for the 15th-minute opener, before Ekitike slotted through for Florian Wirtz to find the bottom-left corner six minutes later. Liverpool's dominance continued in the second period when Szoboszlai rolled a free-kick on the edge of the area for Mohamed Salah to steer into the top-left corner in the 50th minute."
"Data Debrief: Van Dijk turns creative Although he may not have intended his role in Ekitike's finish or Mac Allister's first goal, Van Dijk became the first central defender ever to assist three goals in a single Champions League game. Szoboszlai also became only the second player to score or assist a goal in six successive Champions League appearances for Liverpool (four goals, three assists), after Salah did so between September 2022 and February 2023."
Liverpool defeated Qarabag 6-0 at Anfield to secure automatic qualification and top their Champions League group. Goals came from Alexis Mac Allister (two), Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike, and Federico Chiesa, with Szoboszlai creating chances and Van Dijk contributing decisive flicks and passes. Ekitike scored twice, including one after capitalising on a defensive error, while Szoboszlai and Salah combined for a second-half strike. Van Dijk became the first central defender to record three assists in a single Champions League match. Szoboszlai extended a run of scoring or assisting in six successive Liverpool Champions League appearances. Qarabag progressed to the knockout-stage play-offs.
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