Liverpool delivered a commanding response to recent struggles by defeating Galatasaray 4-0 at Anfield on Tuesday, sealing their place in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.
The English side overturned a 1-0 first-leg deficit with goals from Dominik Szoboszlai, Hugo Ekitike, Ryan Gravenberch and Mohamed Salah to book a last-eight showdown with defending champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Manager Arne Slot had demanded a reaction from his side following a disappointing 1-1 Premier League draw against Tottenham Hotspur, where Liverpool were booed off by fans. Sitting fifth in the league, the Champions League now offers a vital route to salvaging their season.
Liverpool started with intensity, while Galatasaray suffered an early setback when Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen sustained a forearm injury after a collision with Ibrahima Konaté. Though he continued briefly, Osimhen was later substituted at half-time.
The breakthrough came in the 25th minute when Szoboszlai calmly finished from a well-worked corner to level the aggregate score. Despite several missed chances before the break—including a missed opportunity and penalty from Salah—Liverpool remained firmly in control.
The second half saw the floodgates open. Salah redeemed himself with a precise assist for Ekitike, who slotted home to give Liverpool the lead on aggregate. Moments later, Gravenberch doubled the advantage after reacting quickest to a rebound.
Salah then capped the performance with a stunning strike—his 50th goal in the competition—following a clever backheel from Florian Wirtz. The Egyptian forward nearly added more, striking the crossbar before being substituted with a minor injury concern.
Galatasaray struggled to cope with Liverpool’s relentless attacking display, offering little resistance as the hosts dominated proceedings.
Attention now turns to a high-stakes quarter-final clash with Paris Saint-Germain, who cruised past Chelsea FC 8-2 on aggregate. Slot has already praised the French side, managed by Luis Enrique, setting the stage for a thrilling encounter.
Liverpool will hope to carry this momentum forward as they face one of Europe’s most formidable teams in the next round.
