Liverpool vs Rangers summary: TAA and Salah goals, score, goals, highlights, Champions League 22/23
Liverpool vs Rangers live!
Full-time - Liverpool 2-0 Rangers - Mini-match report
As strange as it might sound, Rangers might not be too disappointed with the final scoreline...
Liverpool could and should have been well out of sight by half-timeafter Trent Alexander-Arnold had put them in front with a superb free-kick. But an excellent 1st-half performance from goalkeeper Allan McGregor kept Rangers in with a chance, the veteran denying Darwin Nuñez in particular on a number of occasions after Jürgen Klopp's side had sliced them open.
Mohammed Salah's penalty early in the second half killed the game off though and the Reds saw the game out with plenty left to spare. The Gers did show one or two flickers of life after half-time but did nothing to suggest they could pick up a point.
TAA - MOTM
For that free-kick alone. Go and watch it if you haven't seen it. Delicious.
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Van Bronckhorst: "The gap is obvious but we competed really well"
Last (I think) but not least, Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst:
"We knew it was going to be a very difficult game. The option to play with five at the back was a good one to narrow those spaces."
"It's always disappointing to lose two goals from set-pieces. One free-kick which he took really well and the penalty. I think we had some chances to make it 2-1 - one ball was cleared off the line."
"I think we have improved in the Champions League from the first game, but the level is very high and the level we had today wasn't good enough to get something out of the game."
"The gap is obvious. You have to look at the squads - we are competing against one of the best sides in Europe. I think we competed really well, and we will learn from this game."
Klopp: "Exactly what we needed tonight"
Klopp has also been speaking to BT Sport:
"It was exactly what we needed tonight. We had plenty of chances, imagine if we had taken more of them."
"Two set piece goals as well - I love this as it means you don't need to wait for VAR."
"Unlucky in moments offensively, rock solid defensively apart from the very end."
"We expected a reaction - everyone expected a reaction - we really want to turn this into a positive and for that we need consistency. For that, you need top-class defending and we had that tonight."
That seems quite close to me. Still, they'll know better than me.
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Henderson: "The intensity levels were there"
Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson, speaking to BT Sport:
"First half, the intensity levels were there and overall we're happy with the performance."
"You've got to give Trent a license to get forward and produce what he can produce up the pitch. I thought he was good defensively tonight."
"You try to not listen to social media especially when you go through a tough period as an individual or a team. You've got to switch off the noise and focus on what you do day-to-day and stay focused on what we're trying to achieve as a team."
"Miles more than a 2-0..."
There has been plenty of criticism of Rangers' display in Scotland, meanwhile. Speaking on BBC Sportsound, former Rangers winger Neil McCann had this to say:
"There has to be questions asked of certain players by Van Bronckhorst, That was a sobering performance in terms of how far Rangers were off it."
"That was miles more than a 2-0. Allan McGregor was outstanding, if it wasn't for that man it would have been six."
2-0 better than 4-0 or 5-0
Fair play, Jürgen. Haven't heard that one before.
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Not Nuñez's night
"Don't worry big guy, they'll go in next time" (read this in a German accent).
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Trent: "It's been a slow start to the season but I'm look forwarding to the rest of it"
TAA has been speaking to BT Sport after the game and admitted that he's not been on top form so far this season:
"We started well and continued throughout the game. They had their spells and the second half was tough but overall we played outstanding."
"No matter what, I always try to think positively. It's been a slow start to the season for me but I'm looking forward to the rest of the season."
"We went back to a basic 4-4-2 and played it really well, shifted across the pitch well. We made it compact, they couldn't play through us, they were playing long balls and we picked them off."
Promising signs for Liverpool
Jürgen Klopp will be pleased with how comfortable his side looked in defence after some shaky displays in the Premier League this season. Alexander-Arnold in particular will take lots of confidence from his performance, with a superb goal and some great deliveries into the box accompanies by a sound defensive showing.
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Liverpool consolidate 2nd spot in Group A
In case you missed it...Napoli absolutely took Ajax to the cleaners in tonight's other Group A clash. A superb 6-1 victory means the Italians top the group with nine points from nine.
Liverpool have strengthened their grip on second spot thanks to their win. The Reds are now on six points, three ahead of Ajax. Rangers, sadly, sit bottom on zero.
Liverpool substitution
A token appearance for Joe Gomez, who comes on for Alexander-Arnold. What a goal he scored, by the way
End-to-end stuff!
Colak should really have got a shot away there. A pretty clear sight of goal for the striker, who took too long to make his mind up. Salah races up the other end and shoes him how it's done but McGregor saves fairly comfortably.
James Milner must've played at least 300 games for at least three different clubs?
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Almost a lifeline for Rangers!
The unthinkable almost happened...twice! Rangers haven't been in this game at all but have just come close to a lifeline twice in the space of a few seconds. Matondo's ball across goal requires a last-ditch clearances from Tsimikas, then Colak calls Alisson (remember him?) into action from fairly close range.
Matip...so close!
Joël Matip is a matter of inches - perhaps even centimetres - away from a third goal. His header from Salah's corner grazes the post.
More subs for Rangers
Glen Kamara and Rabbi Matondo replace Ben Davies and Ryan Kent. That looks like a move away from the back three/five. Are Rangers going for it now?
Substitutions for Liverpool
Young Harvey Elliot replaces Nuñez. Not the Uruguayan's night in front of goal, especially in the 1st half.
Old James Milner comes on for Thiago. He'll help shore things up.
This is Rangers' best spell of possession of the whole game. Is it too late for them to grow into it? Hotshot Colak is on now...stranger things have happened.
Liverpool looked certain to add a third there. Nuñez's cutback from the goal line is prodded towards goal by Díaz but King diverts it wide. In any case, the offside flag goes up.
Sub for Rangers
The in-form Antonio Colak replaces Morelos, who really hasn't had a sniff tonight. He may as well have stayed in Glasgow.
Rangers have shown a little bit more spirit after making the substitutions. but you get the feeling Liverpool are toying with them...
Double substitution for Liverppol
Roberto Firmino takes Jota's place in attack, with Fabinho coming on for Jordan Henderson in midfield.
A shot...from Rangers!
Unbelievable! Sakala has been on the pitch for less than a minute and gets a shot away after drifting in from the right. Not a very good shot, but a shot nevertheless.
Subs for Rangers
Fashion Sakala (what a great name) comes on in place of Marek Tillman and will try to support Morelos in attack.
Ryan Jack, meanwhile, comes on for Steven Davis.
Crucial intervention from Goldson!
Alexander-Arnold fizzes another wicked cross into the box and it looks set to land right on the head of Nuñez before Connor Goldson flicks it away, just in time.
McGregor fingertips from Jota!
I hadn't typed it for half an hour or so but now Allan McGreogor's at it again!Jota absolutely rifles one towards goal and the Rangers stopper does just enough to get it over the bar. Liverpool unable to take advantage of the corner.
The second goal has definitely taken the sting out of the game a bit. Liverpool keeping possession but not in too much of a hurry. Rangers can't keep it for more than 2 seconds.
There was absolutely no doubt about that penalty decision, by the way. Díaz nipped in between Lundstrum and King, who clearly caught the Colombian.
Liverpool 2-0 Rangers!
Salah sticks his penalty straight down the middle. If McGregor had stood still, he would've caught it. One of those ones.
That looks to be game over...
Penalty to Liverpool!
Díaz wriggles into the Rangers box and is chopped down by King. Salah to take...
Rangers in the Liverpool box!
That was not a typo. Rangers got into the Liverpool box for the first time in the game. Steven Davis robs Thiago and feeds Kent, whose cross goes out for a goal kick.
Tsimikas almost in!
Kostas Tsimikas underlaps Díaz and looks as if he's about to get a clear slight of goal. Leon King gets across really well to block.
Rangers just HAVE TO be better after half-time. They're just a goal down. They've undoubtedly had a rousing team talk from their boss. Maybe a comeback could be on!
Back underway at Anfield! Liverpool 1-0 Rangers
Surely this 2nd half can't be as one-sided as the 1st...?
TAA's opener
Sweet strike from the Liverpool number 66, and he seemed pretty happy with it.
McGregor keeping Rangers in it
Rangers keeper McGregor could do little about Trent Alexander-Arnold's opener from a sweet free-kick, but he produced a couple of vital interventions to ensure Liverpool didn't go in at half-time looking even prettier. In total he made 26 touches, with 6 saves (5 from close range) and caught one high ball into the box.
How things stand in the Champions League
Ajax 1-3 Napoli
Liverpool 1-0 Rangers
Brugges 1-0 Atlético Madrid
Porto 0-0 Leverkusen
Bayern 5-0 Viktoria Plzeň (FT)
Inter 1-0 Barcelona
Marseille 4-1 Sporting Club (FT)
Eintracht Frankfurt 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Dominance, by the numbers
Liverpool's first half dominance clearly shown by the stats. That possession for Rangers even feels a little bit high to be honest.
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Half-time: Liverpool 1-0 Rangers
1-0 going on 6-0 at half time. It's been one-way traffic at Anfield so far and Rangers, in truth, have put up little resistance.
Despite the Gers packing the central areas of the pitch, Liverpool have cut them open time and again and only a superb goalkeeping display by Allan McGregor has kept the score down.
Nuñez's shooting boots at home
I've lost count of how many times Nuñez has forced a save from McGregor now. To be fair to the big Uruguayan, his movement has been excellent and he's been hitting the target. Not going in so far though.
Nuñez denied once again!
No sooner had I said that...another clear-cut chance for Nuñez! Salah slips the striker through but McGregor saves with his legs. That was far too easy for Liverpool. Like a hot knife through butter.
5 minutes to half-time, Rangers will want to keep it as tight as possible until then and regroup. Unbelievably, they're still in this.
Lundstrum booked
John Lundsrtum is the first player to see yellow after a sneaky foul on Diogo Jota. Naughty.
Díaz again...!
Another save from McGregor, but this time a slightly easier one. Díaz cuts inside and past several Rangers players as if they weren't there. His low shot doesn't have enough power though.
Nuñez...saved!
Maybe not...
Another fine stop from McGregor, who's back in action. The ball is fed through to Nuñez who sizes his options up but can't beat the former Scotland international at the near post.
Rangers wing-backs Tavernier and Borna Barasic have both got forward in the last minute or so. Maybe the tide is turning!
Rangers have set up with three central defenders, which is not usual for them. And the way they've defended, they might never do it again. Keeping the ball also a bit of a problem so far.
Champions League latest
Scores on the doors around Europe
Ajax 1-1 Napoli
Liverpool 1-0 Rangers (but you knew that)
Brugges 0-0 Atlético Madrid
Porto 0-0 Leverkusen
Bayern 5-0 Viktoria Plzeň (FT)
Inter 0-0 Barcelona
Marseille 4-1 Sporting Club (FT)
Eintracht Frankfurt 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Van Dijk...inches away!
Another wicked, wicked delivery from Trent almost lands on the head of Virgil Van Dijk! The Dutchman does get a slight touch on the corner but can't get enough on it.
Liverpool have taken the foot off the gas just a little in the last few minutes. McGregor has had some time to get a breather, Morelos has even managed to get a touch.
It's going to be a long old night up there for Alfredo Morelos. Not sure he's touched the ball yet...
Tavernier, cursed by the big build-up, hits his free-kick into the wall. Ryan Kent slashes the rebound high into the Kop.
A brief bit of respite for Rangers, who have an interesting-looking free-kick of their own here. And they have James Tavernier...
Great reach from McGregpr. He might be 40 but he's still capable of pulling off the odd miracle save. He got down superbly well there.
Salah denied by McGregor!
A superb stop from McGregor to keep out Mo Salah this time! The way this is going, this looks like the ideal game for the Egyptian to find his shooting boots again...
Díaz close!
This is not looking great for Rangers. Luis Díaz is next to have a go but skews his shot just a little bit high and a little bit wide from the edge of the box.
Can this be the moment that gets Alexander-Arnold's season going? Unbelievable technique. They say he could play in midfield, you know...
Maybe a little less than 30 yards...
Liverpool 1-0 Rangers!
Textbook Trent! We've only been going for a matter of minutes but it was coming. He's taken a bit of flak lately for some of his defending but there's no doubting that this boy can strike a ball. No chance for McGregor as Alexander-Arnold's free-kick sails into the top corner. Superb!
Free-kick to Trent/Liverpool 30 yards out...
Rangers have to be careful here...Nuñez almost gets in behind again. Just a straight ball over the top almost caught the visiting defence out.
First chance!
An early chance for Liverpool! Diogo Jota nips into the box and tees it up for Darwin Nuñez, whose strike is beaten away by Allan McGregor! The corner comes to nothing.
And we're off!
Can Liverpool kickstart their season? Can Rangers get a Champions League point?
Before we get underway...
A minute's silence in memory of the victims of the Kanjuruhan Stadium disaster in Indonesia at the weekend. Tragic.
Here come the teams!
Out they come. Liverpool v Rangers. Red v Blue. England v Scotland.
A quick reminder of the line-ups:
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Matip, Tsimikas, Henderson, Thiago, Jota, Salah, Diaz, Nuñez.
Rangers: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, King, Davies, Barisic, Lundstram, Davis, Tillman, Kent, Morelos.
The Rangers fans have travelled down in good numbers, they've not had far to go. Can their heroes cause an upset?
Sir Alex Ferguson in attendance. Wonder who he wants to win...
Anfield on a European night can only mean one thing. You'll Never Walk Alone at full blast. Turn it up!
Liverpool win against Rangers in the UEFA Youth League
Before the big boys get underway, the young lads had a go in the UEFA Youth League this afternoon, with Liverpool running out comfortable winners. An omen for tonight? Or are Rangers due a win?
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Rangers v English clubs
Rangers' last four meetings with English clubs were all against Manchester United in the Champions League group stages (2003-2011, back when the Red Devils were regular fixtures there...). They didn't go especially well for the Gers, who failed to score a goal in them, although they did manage a 0-0 draw. Exciting stuff.
Liverpool v Scottish clubs
Liverpool are Rangers have never faced each other in a competitive game. In fact, the last time the Reds faced Scottish opposition was in the Europa League playoffs in August 2012, when they struggled to a 2-1 aggregate victory over Hearts.
Liverpool haven't won any of their last three games at Anfield against Scottish clubs, drawing with the Jam Tarts and Celtic, either side of a home defeat to the Bhoys in March 2003.
"Easy 3 points boys..."
The Rangers lads in good spirits before the game at Anfield! Will they still be later on or reaching for the spirits?
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Klopp: Why does it always rain on me?
Jürgen Klopp has not been having the greatest start to the season... will tonight's game against Rangers be a turning point?
30 minutes...
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Van Bronckhorst - "Liverpool the best team we've faced"
Van Bronckhorst, meanwhile, was full of praise for Tuesday's opponents:
“It’s going to be very difficult. They have been in three finals in the last five years and are still one of the best teams in Europe,” he added.
“Of all our opponents we faced last season and this season probably this is the best side.”
“Although they didn’t have a good result last Saturday we are still going to prepare for the best Liverpool team tomorrow."
“They have all the strengths to perform at this level. Form means nothing, they have a good team and a fantastic coach.”
Liverpool need to "go back to basics"
Ahead of the game, Klopp spoke about his team's recent defensive struggles and their knack of conceding similar types of goals:
“We have a brave way of defending but when the timing isn’t there the spaces open up. We closed the gaps before with intensity.”
“They have gone through the same gaps. When the timing in our defending isn’t perfect we’re too open. We have to be more compact."
“Defending is an art, and it worked for us really well for a long time. But when it’s not working out you realise you have to go back to the basics.”
Rangers confirmed line-up!
And here are Giovanni van Bronckhorst's troops! Could these be the 11 men that secure Rangers' first Champions League point (or maybe even points) of the season?
McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, King, Davies, Barisic, Lundstram, Davis, Tillman, Kent, Morelos.
Morelos preferred over the in-form Colak.
45 minutes to go.
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Liverpool confirmed line-up!
Jürgen Klopp has named his side...and here it is!
Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Matip, Tsimikas, Henderson, Thiago, Jota, Salah, Diaz, Nuñez.
Nuñez fit enough for a starting spot. Can Salah re-discover his goalscoring form?
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Rangers – this time 10 years ago
You might be aware that Rangers haven’t had their troubles to seek in the last decade or so. Financially-speaking. Let’s leave it there. Anyway, (almost) this time 10 years ago, they lost 1-0 away to the mighty Stirling Albion in the Scottish Third Division. You could say they’ve come a long way…
Rangers in the Champions League
The furthest Rangers have ever gone in the European Cup/Champions League was the semi-finals in 1959-60 (maybe ask your great-great-great grandmother or father about that one), where they lost 12 (TWELVE)-4 on aggregate to Eintracht Frankfurt. They did, though, almost reach the final of the first ever ‘Champions League’ in 1992-93, which had a weird format with only two groups, the winners of which went through to the final.
You will, obviously, remember the Gers’ more recent European ventures. They lost the 2008 UEFA Cup final to Zenit St Petersburg and repeated that (well, in the Europa League) last season, again versus Eintracht.
Liverpool in the Champions League
The Reds have won Europe’s premier competition on six occasions, four of their six triumphs coming in the space of seven seasons in the 1970s and 80s. Of course, everyone remembers the incredible comeback to beat Milan in Istanbul (if you’re too young, ask your Mum or Dad), and they most recently lifted the trophy by defeating Spurs in Madrid in 2019.
Team news – Rangers
Van Bronckhorst will be without the suspended Sands, which means Ben Davies could line up in defence against his former club.
Welsh international wide man Tom Lawrence has joined Scotland defender John Souttar on the sidelines, with both expected to be out of action for some time.
Van Bronckhorst has decisions to make in goal, with Jon McLaughlin fit again to challenge veteran Allan McGregor, and in attack, where he must choose between Alfredo Morelos, the club’s all-time record goalscorer in Europe, and Antonio Colak, who’s scored six times in his last four league matches.
Team news - Liverpool
Left-back Andy Robertson, incidentally a Celtic fan, remains out through injury, so Kostas Tsimikas should continue. Ibrahima Konaté is fit again and could join him at the back, partnering either ex-Celt Virgil van Dijk or Matip.
Naby Keita, Curtis Jones and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are unavailable to feature in midfield but captain Jordan Henderson is back to full fitness.
Darwin Nuñez didn’t start against Brighton at the weekend because of a hamstring issue but is expected to feature tonight.
Rangers – current form
Rangers, meanwhile, look to have steadied the ship a bit in Scotland after a poor sequence at the start of September. Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team appeared shellshocked by a 4-0 defeat against arch rivals Celtic, which preceded those further heavy defeats to Ajax and Napoli. 11 goals conceded in three games without reply…But the Gers have battled back to record consecutive wins against Dundee United and Hearts in the Scottish Premiership and are just a couple of points off the table of the table.
Liverpool – current form
As for tonight’s game, Liverpool are firm favourites to pick up the three points but this season they haven’t exactly been the formidable side we’ve come to expect in the last few years. We’ve become used to seeing the Anfield out fighting it out with Manchester City for the Premier League title and barely dropping a point, but they’re already 11 points behind league leaders Arsenal and 10 behind City, albeit with a game in hand. Two wins in seven Premier League games was not part of the script.
Rangers – 2022-23 Champions League so far
Rangers, meanwhile, were given no hope or progressing from Group A before a ball was kicked and….it looks as if that is exactly how things will pan out. Like Liverpool, the Glasgow side were soundly beaten on matchday one. Like Liverpool, they were 3-0 at half-time. Like Liverpool, they conceded a fourth goal in the second half. Unlike Liverpool, they weren’t able to score a goal themselves. Ajax 4-0 Rangers. Ouch.
Matchday two was on course to go considerably better. 0-0 at half-time against a Napoli side that had put four goals past Liverpool just six days earlier. But 10 minutes into the second half, a red card for USMNT player James Sands killed the Gers, who went onto suffer a 3-0 defeat. No goals scored, seven conceded, the Scots are unsurprisingly bottom of the Group A table.
Liverpool – 2022-23 Champions League so far
The Reds got off to a nightmare start, suffering a 4-1 thumping at the hands of group leaders Napoli in Italy, in a game in which they were 3-0 down at half-time. Luis Díaz netted for Liverpool after they had already conceded a fourth at Stadio Diego Maradona.
Fast forward six days to matchday two and Jürgen Klopp’s men toiled to a 2-1 victory at home to Ajax with a (rare…) Mohammed Salah goal cancelled out by one from another Mohammed Kudus). Just when it looked as if they game would finish in a draw, step forward Joël Matip to secure a vital win for the Reds. Three points from two games leaves them second in Group A, three points behind Napoli and ahead of Ajax on head-to-head.
Before we get going, if you’re looking for a place where you can watch the game, then look no further! Here’s all the info you need. Just make sure you keep this page open too….
Liverpool v Rangers live!
Hello and welcome along to our live coverage of tonight’s Champions League Group A clash from Anfield as Liverpool take on Rangers! A battle of Britain, if you will…