Liverpool are having to stomach “a very bad cocktail” of cheap goals against and wasted chances in the Premier League, according to Arne Slot. To extend the mixologist’s analogy, his team are enjoying life with a few margaritas in the Champions League.
Slot’s team cruised into the last 16 for the second successive season with a demolition of Qarabag at Anfield. Mohamed Salah was among the goalscorers for the first time since accusing Liverpool of throwing him under the bus in December, while Alexis Mac Allister, Florian Wirtz, the influential Hugo Ekitiké and Federico Chiesa were also on the scoresheet.
A rout and a clean sheet were just what Slot craved following defeat at Bournemouth on Saturday. Avoiding next month’s two-legged playoff will be an added bonus given his mounting injury problems. Six wins out of eight in the Champions League group, including against both Madrid clubs and Inter Milan, serve as a reminder of the pedigree that Liverpool possess but have not shown consistently on the domestic front.
The champions of Azerbaijan started the final round in 18th place, above the likes of Marseille, Leverkusen, Napoli and Benfica, and with hopes of continuing their rise in European football by qualifying for the playoffs. Getting there via a positive result at Anfield proved too much of an ask, however, with Liverpool’s Champions League form providing a stark contrast to their Premier League woes once again.
