Liverpool 4-0 Galatasaray: Reds cruise into PSG quarter-final

Liverpool overturned the deficit to rout Galatasaray 4-0 at Anfield, booking a Champions League quarter-final tie with holders Paris Saint-Germain.

After losing 1-0 in Istanbul, the pressure was on manager Arne Slot, but Liverpool started brightly and Dominik Szoboszlai opened the scoring, setting the tempo the home crowd had been craving. Mohamed Salah saw a penalty saved deep into first-half stoppage time but bounced back after the break, playing a key role in two goals and finishing with a fine fourth to complete the win.

Hugo Ekitike and Ryan Gravenberch also scored — Salah supplied the final pass for at least one of those — and there were numerous other openings in a one-sided contest. Victor Osimhen left the pitch injured at halftime. Alexis Mac Allister struck the crossbar, and Salah hit the woodwork as Anfield soaked up the return of European knockout football in a season that has stuttered at times.

Although PSG will represent a sterner test after eliminating Liverpool last season, Slot’s team will take confidence from this dominant evening.

Player ratings

Liverpool: Alisson 6, Jeremie Frimpong 7, Ibrahima Konate 7, Virgil van Dijk 7, Milos Kerkez 8, Dominik Szoboszlai 8, Alexis Mac Allister 7, Ryan Gravenberch 8, Mohamed Salah 8, Hugo Ekitike 7, Florian Wirtz 7.

Subs: Jones 6, Cody Gakpo 6, Federico Chiesa n/a, Nyoni n/a, Ngumoha n/a.

Galatasaray: Ugurcan Cakir 7, Sacha Boey 6, Tapsoba Singo 6, Victor Nelsson Bardakci 6, Jakobs 5, Lucas Torreira 5, Mario Lemina 5, Burak Yilmaz 6, Sara 6, Roland Sallai 6, Victor Osimhen 3.

Subs: Leroy Sane 6, Noah Lang 6, Berkay Akgun 6, Elmaci 6, Mauro Icardi n/a.
Player of the Match: Mohamed Salah.

Salah’s night

Salah’s resilience after missing the spot-kick defined his evening. He became the first African player to reach 50 Champions League goals, and team-mates hailed his leadership and quality. Ekitike praised him, saying he was delighted for Salah and called him a legend, adding that despite suggestions of a difficult season the forward still delivered with a brilliant assist.

Szoboszlai and the team’s motivation

Szoboszlai told TNT Sports the squad had attacked the game from the first whistle and admitted the Istanbul loss provided extra motivation. He insisted the players took the earlier defeat personally and were determined not to celebrate prematurely.

Tactical and match analysis

Former defender Jamie Carragher observed that near-perfect performances have been rare for Liverpool this season, but this display felt different: intense from the outset, relentless in chance creation and driven by vocal home support (no visiting away fans were present). Slot had urged his players to go the extra mile, and they answered with high pressing and consistent threat, with Galatasaray keeper Ugurcan Cakir among the visitors’ few positives despite conceding four.

Arne Slot’s reaction

Slot told TNT Sports he enjoyed nearly every minute of the match, praising the pressing, the supporters’ response and the constant creation of chances. He also noted that, despite scoring four goals, Liverpool's expected-goals (xG) suggested they could have done even better.

Team news

Slot made four changes from the Tottenham match, bringing back Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike, Ibrahima Konate and Milos Kerkez.
Galatasaray introduced Sacha Boey at right-back and Roland Sallai; Davinson Sanchez missed out through suspension.

Statistics and story in numbers

Liverpool dominated both phases of play, creating a high volume of chances and restricting Galatasaray’s opportunities. The performance combined tempo, pressing and clinical finishing to overturn the tie emphatically.

Key dates

Quarter-finals: April 7-8 and April 14-15
Semi-finals: April 28-29 and May 5-6
Final: May 30 — Puskas Arena, Budapest, Hungary