Liverpool produced what manager Arne Slot called their “best performance of the season” at a crucial moment, reminding Anfield and the wider footballing world why they remain title contenders. The Reds thrashed Galatasaray 4-0 on the night to seal a 4-1 aggregate win and a Champions League quarter-final tie with holders Paris Saint-Germain.
After a chastening 1-1 draw with Spurs on Sunday that prompted boos from the home crowd and raised questions about Slot’s methods and identity, Liverpool responded emphatically. Slot said: “From start to finish we played the game I was hoping for, the players were hoping for and the fans were hoping for. Not only did we play the perfect game from start to finish but our fans did as well.”
The dominance was clear in the numbers: Liverpool’s xG was 4.88 compared to Galatasaray’s 0.18. The performance suggested this squad, still competing in Europe, the FA Cup and fighting for Champions League qualification via the league, can still salvage a positive end to a difficult campaign.
Mohamed Salah, after missing a first-half penalty, bounced back to deliver a performance Slot hailed as his best of the season — scoring twice and setting up another, and becoming the first African player to reach 50 Champions League goals. Slot praised Salah’s mentality: “It says a lot about him that after you miss a penalty just before half-time… he assisted Hugo, a great assist, and then scored a trademark goal… So that tells you a lot about his mental strength but definitely also of the team.”
Narratives about a breakdown between Slot and Salah — and whether Slot could arrest Liverpool’s slump — were put on hold as the team produced a classic Anfield European night. Jamie Carragher called it “Liverpool’s best performance of the season,” highlighting the sharp contrast with the Spurs display.
Galatasaray goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir emerged as one of their few bright spots, forced into numerous saves as Liverpool overwhelmed the visitors. Forward Hugo said after the match: “We fought for each other. Great intensity. I think it could have been 10-0,” reflecting the sense of control Liverpool enjoyed.
Dominik Szoboszlai, named by Carragher as his player of the match, urged consistency. “Now we know we are able to do this,” he said. “It should not be a question that we do this every game. It doesn’t matter if we play 8pm in the Champions League at Anfield.”
Sky Sports’ Adam Bate noted the performance felt different to much of Liverpool’s season — more urgent, higher tempo and closer to the heavy-metal football of the Klopp era that fans have missed since Slot’s arrival and his attempts to introduce more control.
With the tie won, attention turns quickly back to the Premier League and cup competitions. Liverpool’s remaining fixtures include a trip to Brighton on Saturday, an FA Cup quarter-final at Manchester City on April 4, and the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final away to PSG on April 8, with the return at Anfield on April 14. How Slot’s side fares across those matches will be the clearest indicator of whether Wednesday’s display marks a genuine turning point.
Champions League qualification via the league remains in Liverpool’s hands as well; they sit fifth between Chelsea and Aston Villa, and their showings in Europe could influence belief and momentum for the run-in. A tough assignment against PSG awaits, but after this performance — and with Salah restored to ominous form — Liverpool have given themselves reason not to be written off.