Clinical Reds Cruise Past Qarabag as Injury Curse Strikes Again
Liverpool delivered a commanding 6-0 victory over Qarabag in their final Champions League group stage match at Anfield, but the emphatic win was overshadowed by yet another serious injury setback for manager Arne Slot.
Frimpong's Early Exit Mars Professional Performance
Less than two minutes into the match, defender Jeremie Frimpong pulled up abruptly while tracking Qarabag's Abdellah Zoubir along Liverpool's right flank. The sight of emergency centre-half Ryan Gravenberch putting his hands to his head told its own story of deepening defensive concerns.
Frimpong, who joined Liverpool last summer, has already missed eleven weeks this season with two separate hamstring injuries. This latest setback represents his third significant injury since making his professional debut in 2019, having previously missed eight weeks during Bayer Leverkusen's 2021/22 campaign.
The timing could hardly be worse for Slot, who had specifically discussed managing Frimpong's minutes before this match. With Joe Gomez's fitness now crucial for Saturday's Premier League encounter against Newcastle United, Liverpool's defensive resources are stretched to breaking point.
Salah Ends Goal Drought to Delight the Kop
Amid the injury concerns, Mohamed Salah provided genuine cause for celebration with his first Liverpool goal since November 1st. The Egyptian international curled in beautifully from a worked free-kick early in the second half, marking his 49th Champions League goal and visibly delighting the Anfield faithful.
The strike appears to have drawn a line under recent tensions between player and management, with Salah enjoying himself against overwhelmed opposition. His contribution formed part of a comprehensive team performance that saw multiple players find the net against hapless visitors who somehow arrived on Merseyside with ten group stage points.
Comprehensive Victory Despite Defensive Worries
Florian Wirtz had already put Liverpool in control with a tidy finish inside the first quarter, while Alexis Mac Allister added to the scoreline before half-time. After Salah's strike, Hugo Ekitike ran half the length of the field for Liverpool's fourth, Mac Allister added his second, and Federico Chiesa completed the rout.
The one-sided nature of the contest allowed Slot to rest several first-choice players well before the final whistle, providing valuable recovery time ahead of crucial domestic fixtures. While this victory against limited opposition won't rank among Anfield's most memorable European nights, the clean sheet and free-scoring performance offered psychological benefits after a difficult Premier League period.
Mixed Blessings for Slot's Stuttering Campaign
Arne Slot watched much of the match with hands in pockets, aware that even this routine Champions League formality came at significant cost. The Liverpool manager now faces mounting selection headaches as injuries continue to plague his squad throughout this challenging season.
At minimum, the comprehensive victory provided temporary respite from recent Premier League struggles, where Liverpool are currently enduring a winless five-game run. Whether this performance generates genuine momentum ahead of Newcastle's visit remains uncertain, but the emphatic scoreline at least offered supporters something to cheer about.
The hope for Liverpool will be that their personnel crisis eases before Champions League knockout football resumes. For now, Slot must navigate immediate challenges with depleted resources, hoping that Salah's return to scoring form signals broader improvement despite defensive vulnerabilities that continue to undermine their campaign.
