The first competitive meeting between two of Britain’s most successful clubs captured the imagination, lured Steven Gerrard back to his beloved Anfield and even lured Sir Alex Ferguson into enemy territory. It was an occasion only on paper. The gulf between Liverpool and Rangers in terms of experience, income and Champions League quality was reflected on the pitch where Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side were thoroughly outclassed.
Jürgen Klopp’s 60th Champions League game as Liverpool manager (excluding play-offs) was just the elixir his side needed in their quest for confidence and defensive solidity. Trent Alexander-Arnold reminded Gareth Southgate of the attacking prowess the England manager may decide to do without at the World Cup with a stunning free-kick. Mohamed Salah added a second from the penalty spot. Limiting the loss to two was Rangers’ best achievement on a night in which they were indebted to the enduring excellence of goalkeeper Allan McGregor.
Van Bronckhorst’s side did not seriously threaten Alisson’s goal until the 85th minute, when substitute Rabí Matondo had a shot from the line by Kostas Tsimikas. The away fans’ renditions of God Save the King caused more consternation among the home crowd than anything their players produced on the pitch. Rangers were extremely tame and remain pointless and goalless in their return to the Champions League stage.
There was a rehab of sorts for Darwin Nunez, though. Klopp had taken the Liverpool forward into training on Sunday and told the Uruguay international not to worry about the difficult introduction to his Anfield career. He backed up that reassuring message by giving the 23-year-old just his third start of the season and as the centerpiece of an even more offensive-minded lineup than usual.
“If we can help the boys with a different way of defending, we will,” the Liverpool manager said in his pre-match press conference. The response was to dispense with Liverpool’s usual three-man midfield and load up the attacking third with Salah, Diogo Jota and Luis Díaz all working in front of Núñez, whose movement and work-rate in the front line impressed from outside Jota, reveling in the space between Rangers’ three central defenders and the central midfielder, was also instrumental in Liverpool’s complete dominance in the first half.
Trent Alexander-Arnold sends a free kick into the Rangers net. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters
It made perfect sense to reintroduce Núñez against a team that, after the first two games, had the joint-worst defensive record in the Champions League. The £64million summer signing saw McGregor’s first goal after just two minutes. A snapshot of Jota’s touch was straight at the veteran goalkeeper.
Moments later, Nunez was fouled outside the area by former Liverpool defender Ben Davies, who never played for the club before his £4million move north of the border this summer. It was prime territory for Alexander-Arnold. The Liverpool right-back was denied a reprieve from recent criticism when Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez saved his late free-kick from a similar position on Saturday. I would not be frustrated again.
Alexander-Arnold’s intentions were clear when he lined up the set piece but McGregor, who probably left too much space to his right, was powerless to prevent a brilliant free-kick curling just inside the top corner. Indeed, Alexander-Arnold, Klopp, all of the Liverpool persuasion inside Anfield, savored a timely demonstration of what the defender contributes as an attacking force. But this has never been questioned.
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Salah came close to doubling Liverpool’s lead after being sent down the right by Nunez’s fine first-time strike. The striker drove a low effort into the bottom corner but McGregor intervened with a fine save. The 40-year-old also denied Núñez three times before the end of the first half – from close range after Jordan Henderson floated a delicious ball over the Rangers defence, with his legs as Salah threaded a good pass in the area and from distance following. a fluid movement involving Díaz and Jota.
Rangers offered next to nothing as an attacking threat. Their rivals have been vulnerable defensively all season but have rarely been tested to that effect with Alfredo Morelos preferred to top scorer Antonio Colak isolated by a Rangers midfield that lacked the legs and possession quality to stem the tide Any concerns Klopp harbored about the half-time scoreline, and they must have been fleeting at best, disappeared early in the second half when Diaz burst into the box between John Lundstram and Leon King. The Colombian international was caught by the 18-year-old defender for a clear penalty. Salah swept the resulting spot-kick into the center of the goal as McGregor dived to his left.
McGregor made a superb save to keep out Jota’s shot which was destined for the top corner and Joël Matip headed home a good chance from a Tsimikas corner. Núñez’s display deserved a goal, his confidence could have done with one too, but he had to settle for a warm ovation from all four sides of the stadium when he was substituted at the end. Rangers desperately need an answer of their own at Ibrox next Wednesday.