Following several disappointing weeks, the pressure finally eased for Arne Slot as Liverpool delivered one of their best performances of the season, securing a spot in the Champions League quarterfinals.

Trailing one-nil after the first leg in Turkey, the home team needed to score. They achieved this early when Dominik Szoboszlai struck with his left foot from a low corner kick in the 25th minute, leveling the aggregate score.

In a season marked by offensive struggles, Liverpool launched 32 shots, with 16 on target, and could have scored more than four goals. They earned their victory and a place in the quarterfinals, where they will confront defending champions PSG, who eliminated them from the competition last year.

Salah (in red) scores during the match against Galatasaray at Anfield, Liverpool, England on 18/3. Photo: Reuters

After Szoboszlai's goal, the atmosphere at Anfield intensified, and Liverpool created numerous opportunities. Mohamed Salah missed a close-range chance following a defensive error from Galatasaray. Florian Wirtz's shot from about five meters deflected over the bar. From the subsequent corner, Alexis Mac Allister's header struck the crossbar. Szoboszlai continued to impress with a long-range effort that forced goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir into a diving save, before the visiting keeper then stopped Salah's poorly taken penalty just before halftime.

Cakir was finally beaten in the second half when a beautiful sequence of one-touch passes culminated in Salah assisting Hugo Ekitike, before Ryan Gravenberch scored to make it three-nil. In the 61st minute, the tie was effectively sealed as Salah curled a shot into the top left corner, marking his 50th goal in the competition.

It was a special night at a packed Anfield. No Galatasaray supporters were present in the away section due to a UEFA ban. On the pitch, it was almost exclusively a one-sided game. Liverpool's expected goals (xG) stood at 5,02, while Galatasaray's was only 0,18.

A recurring issue for Liverpool this season has been slow starts. Fans previously criticized the team for playing too slowly and lacking excitement, but this performance was far more energetic. Leading by only one-nil at halftime caused some anxiety among supporters, but the team accelerated in the second half and completed their mission.

Once again this season, Slot deployed Salah in a more central role than usual on the right wing, allowing right-back Jeremie Frimpong to push forward as an additional attacker. Ekitike frequently drifted left, while Wirtz played behind, moving flexibly between the wing and central areas. Mac Allister and Szoboszlai also took turns advancing from midfield, making it impossible for Galatasaray to mark them effectively. Liverpool's play demonstrated effective flexibility, and the final score accurately reflected their dominance.

Vy Anh