Rangers vs Liverpool summary: Salah scores quickest UCL hat-trick, score, goals and highlights, 2022/23 Champions League
Rangers vs Liverpool: Champions League as it happened
Rangers vs Liverpool: headlines
- Liverpool score six second-half goals to thump Rangers
- Sub Salah hits hat-trick in six minutes 12 seconds - the quickest in UCL history
- Firmino nets double, Núñez and Elliott also on target for Reds
- Arfield had given Rangers early lead at Ibrox
- Liverpool now need at most a point to qualify for last 16
Group A: how things stand after matchday four
Returning to Group A, then, this is how things look after that wild night of football. Napoli lead the way and are through after beating Ajax 4-2, and Liverpool follow three points behind the Italians. Jürgen Klopp's men, who face Manchester City next up in the Premier League, are six points clear of Ajax and need no more than a draw against either the Dutchmen or Napoli to be certain of their spot in the last 16. Ajax look likely to go into the Europa League, although Rangers are still technically in a position to leapfrog them.
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| group A | T | MP | W | D | L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Thriller at Camp Nou
In Catalonia, there was a thrilling finish to Barcelona and Inter Milan's crunch Group C clash, with three goals scored after the 80-minute mark. Robert Lewandowski's stoppage-time leveller rescued a point for Barça, but the draw leaves Inter in pole position to join leaders Bayern in the knockout stages.
My colleague Kieran Quaile has all the reaction to the game at the Camp Nou
(Photo: PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images)
All Wednesday's UCL results
Here are the results from all eight Champions League games played today. Bayern Munich's 4-2 win over Viktoria Plzen means the Germans follow Club Brugge, Napoli, Real Madrid and Manchester City into the last 16.
Rangers' heaviest Ibrox loss
It appears that this 7-1 defeat is Rangers' heaviest in a competitive match at Ibrox. The margin of Liverpool's victory also makes it the Gers' joint-worst ever defeat in European competition, alongside a 6-0 thrashing away to Real Madrid in 1960.
(Photo: REUTERS/Russell Cheyne)
Van Dijk: "It was great"
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has been speaking to BT Sport: “It was great. What we expected happened with the fans behind them at the beginning - they were trying to give everything, and you have to be very composed and play the ball quick from side to side, between the lines. Get your body between the ball and the player, and play with composure. In the first half we could have done it better, but in the second half we did it much better.”
Not Liverpool's first time in seventh heaven
Tonight is the fourth time that Liverpool have scored seven or more in a single game in the Champions League. The Reds enjoyed 7-0 wins over Spartak Moscow and NK Maribor in 2017, and an 8-0 victory over Besiktas in 2007.
Salah's hat-trick the quickest ever in UCL
Stats specialists Opta have timed Mo Salah's hat-trick at six minutes and 12 seconds - the quickest ever treble in the Champions League.
Peeep peeep peeeep! What a crazy final 15 minutes that was. There are loud boos inside Ibrox as Slavko Vincic blows his final whistle. Liverpool have utterly routed Rangers and have put one foot in the Champions League last 16. Jürgen Klopp's men know they need at most a point from their final two Group A games to book their place in the knockout stages.
Rangers, who have now lost four in four and conceded 16 goals in the process, are officially out of the Champions League. They can still snatch third and qualify for the Europa League, but on present form that doesn't look terribly likely.
There'll be one minute of time added on at Ibrox.
Goal given! Rangers 1-7 Liverpool - Elliott
Word comes through to Slavko Vincic that Salah was onside, and the goal is awarded! Seven!
Could it be seven? Rangers have completely crumbled, and Liverpool have the ball in the back of the net every time they come forward. Thiago's reverse ball slips Salah into the box on the left, and his low cross reaches Jota. McGregor keeps the Portuguese's finish out, but Elliott pings the loose ball into the net.
The flag is up for offside against Salah, but VAR is now checking it...
Goal! Rangers 1-6 Liverpool - Salah gets his hat-trick!
It's six for Liverpool, and again Salah scores! It's a six-minute hat-trick for the substitute, I make it.
Scampering into the Rangers box from the right, Salah opens out his body and strokes the ball into the far corner, with McGregor pretty much a spectator.
Your money would never have been on this scoreline at half time.
Goal! Rangers 1-5 Liverpool - Salah scores his second!
Salah has another! Receiving on the edge of the box, he rolls his boot over the ball before firing into McGregor's left-hand post! That's 37 Champions League goals for Liverpool - more than any other player has managed for a single Premier League club in the competition.
And a minute later...
For Liverpool, James Milner is on for Konaté. A moment earlier, Rangers made a triple substitution, with Wright, Matondo and Morelos replacing Sakala, Colak and Kent.
Goal! Rangers 1-4 Liverpool - Salah scores!
Liverpool are totally dominant. Salah controls a dropping ball on the right-hand side of the penalty box, shakes off Barisic, and toes the ball across McGregor and inside the far post.
That's Salah's 36th Champions League goal for Liverpool; he equals Didier Drogba and Sergio Agüero's record tournament hauls for a single club.
Elliott controls, cuts in from the right and looks for McGregor's far top corner. The ball drifts just over. Hmm. Fabinho did appear to commit a very clear foul just before the ball was played to Elliott, but Mr Vincic waved play on.
Another change for Liverpool: Diogo Jota is on for Firmino, who has been the visitors' outstanding performer tonight.
Right away, Salah has a very presentable chance to score Liverpool's fourth. The ball is worked to the Egyptian, who's in acres of space inside the Rangers box, but McGregor is quickly off his line to parry.
At the other end, Sakala scurries forward down the right and crosses low, but Konaté blocks. There are appeals for handball from the home fans, but the officials say no.
That goal is Núñez's final involvement. He's one of three players to be replaced. Andy Robertson, Mo Salah and Thiago Alcántara are on for Núñez, Tsimikas and Henderson.
Goal! Rangers 1-3 Liverpool - Núñez scores!
That's a neat finish from Núñez, and that's probably Liverpool out of sight. It all comes from a bit of a dodgy clearance from McGregor, who shanks at straight to Fabinho. He works it on to Carvalho, who in turn plays it to Firmino.
Firmino slips in Núñez, who's in on goal - and the Uruguayan's finish from the left-hand side of the box is low, across McGregor, and into the far corner.
Play stops for a good minute or two as Slavko Vincic jogs quite a long way to give a group of Liverpool substitutes a ticking-off as they warm up on the touchline. One can only assume the Slovenian referee feels they're encroaching on the playing surface, or something, He has quite a frank exchange of views with Thiago, before finally getting us underway again. Not sure how worth it all that was.
On comes Davis, who in my head must be in his mid-40s by now, but is apparently still 'only' 37.
Having just conceded, Rangers have now also lost another player to injury. Jack is the man who has to come off. He'll be replaced by Steven Davis.
Goal! Rangers 1-2 Liverpool - Firmino scores again!
Gomez's pass set Núñez up a moment ago, and the defender is again involved as Liverpool take the lead at Ibrox! Released by Elliott, Gomez bursts forward down the right, before delivering low into the box. His cross is right into the path of Firmino, who sidefoots in first time! His finish goes under McGregor and into the net.
Firmino turns neatly and scampers forward towards the Rangers box. He tries to feed a low ball into the path of Núñez's run into the area, but the Uruguayan is crowded out, and the hosts clear.
A moment later, Gomez's forward ball to Núñez gives the striker another bite at the cherry, but his curling effort is well off target.
That's an important defensive intervention from Van Dijk. Colak heads a deep right-wing cross down at the back post, with a delegation of Rangers jerseys arriving at pace to snap up the second ball. Van Dijk nips in just in time, however, and toes it away.
Tsimikas slaps the free-kick over the bar, to roars of approval from the Rangers fans.
Liverpool start the second half on top, playing a little more incisively in attack.
First, the Reds work it to Gomez to burst into the box and shoot, but his effort is blocked. A moment later, Elliott pops up in a similar position on the right-hand side of the area, but is also crowded out.
Elliott is then bundled over by Lundstram, and Liverpool are given an enticing free-kick chance some 25 yards or so out.
Peeeep! We're back up and running at Ibrox.
No changes at half time.
Scott Arfield (left) fires Rangers into the lead in the 17th minute.
(Photo: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
HT scores around the UCL
Here are the scores at half time in all six of tonight's 3pm ET kickoffs in the Champions League.
Barça lead Inter at Camp Nou
In our other featured game, Barcelona lead Inter 1-0 at half time at the Camp Nou. Ousmane Dembélé got the goal for Xavi's men, tapping in from close range with six minutes to go in the first 45.
My colleague Kieran has more on the action in Catalonia
(Photo: Pau BARRENA / AFP)
Peeeep peeep peeeeep! That's half time. One each at the break.
All in all, it's a scoreline that's a faithful reflection of what we've seen so far. It was a pretty even first half, with both sides having periods where they enjoyed the upper hand.
Fabinho shuttles the ball on first-time out to Tskimikas on the left. He quickly gets it out of his feet and crosses, but it's too close to McGregor, who gathers with ease.
A moment later, Núñez leads a Liverpool break. He checks back and lifts a ball over the top for Elliott to run on to, but the Uruguayan's pass is overhit, and bounces out.
Goldson is replaced by Leon King.
There'll be three additional minutes at the end of the first half.
Goldson won't be able to continue. He's clearly twanged a muscle in his thigh, and walks off very, very gingerly.
Back come Rangers, whose tails are definitely back in the up position. Sakala scuttles forward towards the byline and cuts it back into the Liverpool box, where Arfield is one of a number of players arriving at pace. It's right there for him to hit, but he can't get the right power or direction on it, and his shot is blocked.
Liverpool push Rangers back for a minute or so, but when Lundstram wins it back in the midfield, he quickly releases it forward for Colak to run into space. It's a very, very promising Rangers break. Colak tries to find Kent, who is bursting into the penalty area, but his ball is overhit and the chance is lost.
Rangers have wrested back control, at least for now. They win a free-kick on the right, which is delivered at pace - but Sakala is flagged offside, and Liverpool can clear.
There are murmurs of consternation from the home fans when Rangers are a mite sluggish about getting the ball forward, but soon the hosts do just that. First, Jack lifts it into the box, forcing Gomez to hack it away. Rangers then work it to Barisic on the left, where he gets into crossing space and fizzes a ball into the middle. The delivery is right on Colak's head, but it's hit with a little too much power, and the Croat can't control his header to direct it goalwards.
Liverpool celebrate Firmino's equaliser.
(Photo: REUTERS/Russell Cheyne)
Carvalho carries the ball towards the Rangers box and lays it off to Tsimikas on the left. His cross is towards Núñez, but Davies gets it clear.
That goal has settled Liverpool right down. Elliott drops deep to collect and turn, before spying Núñez's forward run into the Rangers area. The young Englishman looks to find the striker, but his ball is just too long.
It's a lot quieter at Ibrox now.
Goal! Rangers 1-1 Liverpool - Firmino equalises!
From the right, Núñez whips in his corner towards the near post - where Firmino beats Tavernier to the ball and heads in, high into the net! Liverpool level right away.
Liverpool might not have been very good so far this season, but Firmino has started in some decent scoring form: that's seven in 12 for the Brazilian.
Carvalho gets two chances to shoot for Liverpool. First, he cuts across the top of the box from the left, before firing wide - to cheers of derision from the Rangers support. A minute later, Carvalho is given another chance to run at the home defence, but his strike is deflected behind for a corner.
From which...
Blimey, Liverpool are rocking here. Gomez is very lucky not to give away a second right away. His backpass from the right is sloppy and mishit, and Colak is a matter of inches away from intercepting. Had he managed to, he would have been one on one with Alisson.
Goal! Rangers 1-0 Liverpool - Arfield scores!
The hosts have made the better start at Ibrox, and they're ahead! It's very nice build-up play, and an equally nice finish.
The ball is worked forward to Colak, who lays it off to Jack. He quickly plays it back forward into the path of Arfield, whose run splits the Liverpool defence in two. Alisson rushes out to narrow the angle, but it doesn't matter: Arfield's finish is low and right into the corner.
Tavernier crosses from the right, but it's too long. It runs through to Kent, who lays it off to Barisic to cross from deep on the left. His delivery is also too deep, though, provoking sighs of frustration from the home fans.
Elliott scampers forward and dinks a ball through for Núñez to run into the Rangers box and square for Firmino. The Brazilian can't collect the pass, though, and the flag was up anyway. Núñez was marginally offside when Elliott played it to the Uruguayan.
Tavernier crosses from the right towards Colak, but it's headed clear. It's been a bright start by Rangers.
The first time Van Dijk is on the ball for more than an instant, there are boos for the Dutchman, who used to play for the men in green and white across town.
Tsimikas gets forward for Liverpool on the left, before stroking a curling cross over to the back post. Núñez is the target of the Greek's delivery, but the striker can't quite get there in time to connect.
Back come Rangers, and this time it's Kent, the former Liverpool player, who tries his luck. Cutting in from the left, he advances towards the Reds' box before looking for the far top corner with a curling shot. It's a couple of yards off target, though.
Rangers enjoy their first spell of prolonged possession inside the Liverpool half. From the left, Lundstram pings a pinpoint diagonal to Sakala, whose first touch takes the ball out of his feet and into the area. With his second touch, he hits a low shot towards goal, but he doesn't get a whole lot on it, truth be told. An easy save for Alisson.
Jack is down and in some pain after being brought down by Konaté. He's up soon enough, though, and on we play.
It's all Liverpool ball in the first couple of minutes. Van Dijk hoofs it high into the Rangers box for Núñez to chase, but he can't bring the bouncing ball under control, and Davies gets it clear.
Peeeeeep! Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic gets us underway!
Teams out!
The teams have made their way on to the pitch at Ibrox, where the home fans are making a lorra lorra noise.
Anthem done, coin toss done... it's almost time to go in Glasgow.
Salah one off Drogba, Agüero record
He's not in the Liverpool XI tonight, but if gets on at Ibrox, Mohamed Salah can make goalscoring history. The Egyptian needs just to net just once more to draw level with Didier Drogba and Sergio Agüero's tallies of 36 Champions League goals for Chelsea and Manchester City, respectively - record tournament hauls for a single Premier League club.
Napoli through to last 16
It's all over in Italy, where Napoli have beaten Ajax 4-2 and have booked their spot in the last 16. Just to reiterate, it's a result that means Liverpool will only need no more than one point to qualify if they defeat Rangers at Ibrox.
Club Brugge have also secured their place in the knockout stages, after a 0-0 draw away to Atlético Madrid in Group B.
Along with Napoli and Brugge, Real Madrid and Manchester City have also secured their berths in the next round.
Rangers' players warm up for tonight's Liverpool clash.
(Photo by Steve Welsh/PA Images via Getty Images)
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker warms up ahead of kick-off at Ibrox.
Photo: Steve Welsh/PA Images via Getty Images)
Osimhen restores Napoli's two-goal lead
Oh, hold on. Victor Osimhen has just scored for Napoli: as it stands, then, the Partenopei are winning 4-2 and heading through with maximum points thus far.
Napoli vs Ajax: one goal in it...
Over in Naples, incidentally, it's turned into a thrilling contest in the second half. Davy Klaassen and Steven Bergwijn have scored for Ajax, either side of a Khvicha Kvaratskhelia goal for Napoli, so with time running out at the Stadio Maradona, the hosts lead 3-2.
Can I also point you in the direction of our other featured game tonight, which is Barcelona's crucial Group C clash with Inter Milan. Kieran Quaile is currently building up to the match at the Camp Nou, and will be providing minute-by-minute commentary of what is a must-win game for Barça.
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If you're wondering how you can tune in to Rangers vs Liverpool on TV or online, it's worth your while taking a look at my colleague Andy Hall's guide on how and where to watch the game.
What the coaches said: Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool
Liverpool's poor start to season:
"This is a tough situation, but it's a challenge and we face always challenges and we go for it. I’m sorry for our people, they expected after last season we go again, fly again and compete with everything. Now it's not the case. I cannot promise we will fly [tonight] but I can promise we will fight, definitely.
"Until somebody tells us the fight is over, that's all we can promise. Yes, it didn't become easier since Sunday because of the injuries but the team I saw [on Tuesday] in training I liked a lot. So, let's give it a go."
Rangers could be a different proposition to last week:
“In the Champions League there is always this middle tie where you play home and away against the same opponent. We had the situation quite frequently that we win the home game and then go to the away game and it is of course different. So, do I have to [remind my players of this]? I don't know. Will I do? Yes.”
(Photo: Steve Welsh/PA Images via Getty Images)
What the coaches said: Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Rangers
Promising home performances:
“At home we have had some strong performances, not only last season but this season too. The last game we played against Napoli was a really good one. We were really in the game against a strong opponent until the penalties and the red card. That game also gave us confidence that we can get something out of our home games. It’s another chance tomorrow to get points.”
Handling Liverpool:
“We have to be really focused on the transition moments and the times where we need to defend. There are times where we have to defend. Once you’re in moments where you can be dangerous, you need to be clinical. In the away game we had two big chances to score which we didn’t. Those moments in the Champions League are very vital.”
(Photo by Alan Harvey/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Kent starts against former club; six changes for Liverpool
Rangers boss Van Bronckhorst makes just the one change to the team that thumped St Mirren 4-0 in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday, as Liverpool youth product Ryan Kent replaces Rabbi Matondo in the hosts’ line-up.
For Liverpool, meanwhile, there are a raft of changes - six in total. Joe Gomez, Ibrahima Konaté, Fabinho, Harvey Elliott, Fabio Carvalho and Roberto Firmino all come in for the Reds, who lost Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Díaz and Joël Matip to injury in the Arsenal defeat. Konaté makes his first start of the season, having recovered from a knee injury.
Liverpool also have Arthur Melo, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and Curtis Jones unavailable. After overcoming a knee issue, Andy Robertson is fit enough to make the visitors' bench.
Liverpool team news
Liverpool's team is in, too. Klopp has gone with: Alisson, Gomez, Van Dijk, Konaté, Tsimikas, Fabinho, Henderson, Elliott, Carvalho, Firmino and Núñez.
Rangers team news
Rangers' line-up has been announced.
Napoli cruising against Ajax
That clash between Napoli and Ajax, by the way, is one of today's two early kickoffs. It's now half time in Naples, where the Italians lead 2-0 courtesy of goals by Hirving Lozano and Giacomo Raspadori.
Napoli only need to avoid defeat to secure qualification for the last 16, so it's now going to take an almighty turnaround at the Stadio Maradona for Luciano Spalletti's men to be denied a knockout-stage place on matchday four.
And as I mentioned a moment earlier, defeat for Ajax and a win for Liverpool would leave the Reds needing at most a point from matchdays five and six to go through.
Follow Napoli vs Ajax live with AS USA
(Photo: Matteo Ciambelli/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Group A: standings
Here’s a look at how last week’s Group A games left the table ahead of matchday four today:
Liverpool licking wounds after Arsenal defeat
As for Liverpool, they’re well placed to progress to the knockout stages in Europe, but their generally ropey start to the season continued on Sunday when they lost 3-2 to Arsenal in the Premier League. Defeat to the Gunners was the Reds’ third league game in a row without a win, and left them down in 10th in the English top flight.
If the Merseysiders can bounce back with the three points in Glasgow, they’ll take a big step closer to the Champions League last 16. Indeed, if Ajax lose to Napoli in tonight's other Group A match, victory for Liverpool would leave Jürgen Klopp’s men needing at most a point from their last two Group A games to progress.
(Photo: REUTERS/David Klein)
Rangers still pointless, still goalless
Competing in the Champions League group stage for the first time since 2010/11, Rangers couldn’t really have fared much worse so far in Group A. Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men have lost three out of three, conceding nine and scoring a grand total of zero.
The Gers lost 2-0 to Liverpool in the reverse fixture at Anfield last week, and must win tonight if they’re to have any chance of reaching the last 16.
Rangers vs Liverpool: welcome
Hello! Welcome to our live coverage of today’s Champions League Group A clash at Ibrox, where bottom team Rangers host second-placed Liverpool on matchday four. Kick-off in Glasgow is at 8pm local time (3pm ET).