Liverpool returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Rangers at Anfield in the first-ever meeting between the two sides this evening.
Trent Alexander-Arnold responded to his recent critics in the perfect manner with a goal and a clean sheet, breaking the deadlock after only seven minutes when he curled a pinpoint free kick into the top corner.
A string of increasingly-impressive saves from Allan McGregor kept Liverpool from putting the result beyond doubt within the opening 45 minutes, but there was nothing the 40-year-old could do when Mohamed Salah doubled the hosts' lead from the penalty spot.
Eighteen-year-old Leon King's rash challenge on Luis Diaz left the referee with no option but to point to the spot, and Salah coolly sent his penalty down the middle to give Liverpool breathing room.
There was almost a late fightback from Rangers when Kostas Tsimikas and Alisson Becker denied the visitors certain goals within one minute of each other, but Liverpool ultimately held on comfortably to boost their chances of reaching the last 16.
Jurgen Klopp's men, who turned out in a 4-2-3-1 formation rather than their usual 4-3-3, now sit second in Group A behind only Napoli, who have won all three of their group games so far.
HIGHLIGHTS
3rd min: Almost a perfect start for Liverpool as Darwin Nunez breaks in behind a fires a volley towards goal which Allan McGregor beats away.
7th min: The home side break the deadlock through a stunning Trent Alexander-Arnold free kick. The under-fire England international lines up his effort from around 25 yards and leaves McGregor no chance by placing the set piece into the top corner.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, that's special! 🎯
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 4, 2022
A perfectly placed free-kick puts Liverpool ahead against Rangers 👌
Superb stuff!#UCL pic.twitter.com/oP8ENMXwpz
15th min: Mohamed Salah cuts inside from the right and curls an effort towards the bottom corner which McGregor gets down well to save.
34th min: Nunez collects the ball inside the area from Jordan Henderson's pass and only has the keeper to beat, but he puts his shot straight at McGregor, who makes a good stop from close range.
This pass from Jordan Henderson 🤌#UCL pic.twitter.com/uOHjw13vae
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 4, 2022
35th min: Luis Diaz is allowed to cut inside all too easily from the left and get a shot away, but it is a tame strike and McGregor makes another save.
41st min: Yet another fine save from the Rangers goalkeeper, who this time uses his legs to deny Nunez after Salah had slipped the Uruguayan forward through.
43rd min: The personal duel between Nunez and McGregor continues, and there is only one winner so far. This time Nunez's shot could be placed better, but McGregor still needs to make the save.
53rd min: Liverpool finally double their lead from the penalty spot after Diaz had been brought down by Leon King inside the area. McGregor has been in brilliant form tonight, but he cannot keep this one out as Salah puts it down the middle.
59th min: Diogo Jota unleashes a blistering effort from inside the box, but once again finds McGregor in stubborn form as the 40-year-old shows great reflexes to tip it over.
Allan McGregor had no right to get his fingertips onto that! 🤯
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 4, 2022
Class.#UCL pic.twitter.com/id4SqXG5xu
84th min: Joel Matip meets a corner with a firm header, but he puts it narrowly wide of the post.
85th min: Stunning piece of defending from Kostas Tsimikas as he comes flying back to clear the ball off his line, denying Rangers a certain goal and a potential route back into the match.
86th min: The resulting corner drops to Antonio Colak, but he is thwarted by a brilliant Alisson Becker save from point-blank range.
90+1 min: Late chance for Salah to add to his tally for the night as he breaks away, but puts his shot too close to McGregor.
MAN OF THE MATCH - ALLAN McGREGOR
© Reuters
Allan McGregor may have conceded twice and ended up on the losing side, but he was still the standout performer at Anfield this evening.
The 40-year-old belied his advancing years - not for the first time this season - to make a string of superb saves, and had it not been for him being in such good form, the scoreline would have been a lot worse for Rangers.
The duel between McGregor and Darwin Nunez was a running theme throughout and one that the Rangers keeper undoubtedly won, while he also made saves to deny Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz and the pick of the bunch to keep out Diogo Jota.
In total, the veteran made eight saves overall, only being beaten from set-piece situations.
STANDOUT MOMENT
© Reuters
With so much scrutiny on Trent Alexander-Arnold's all-around game at the moment - both for club and country - tonight's performance was exactly what he needed.
The England international looked devoid of confidence during an error-strewn performance against Brighton & Hove Albion at the weekend, but all of his usual swagger seemed to come oozing back when he picked out the top corner with a trademark free kick from 25 yards to break the deadlock.
There was the usual array of incisive passing and crossing too, and the clean sheet may be the most satisfying aspect of all given the questions surrounding the defensive side of his game.
BEST STAT
6 - Since the start of the 2016-17 season, Trent Alexander-Arnold has scored six direct free-kick goals in all competitions, more than any other Liverpool player in this period. Bins.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 4, 2022
35 - Mohamed Salah has scored 35 UEFA Champions League goals for Liverpool, only Didier Drogba (36 at Chelsea) and Sergio Agüero (36 at Manchester City) have netted more for an English side in the competition. Legacy. pic.twitter.com/1UnCjoYgA1
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 4, 2022
MATCH STATS
Possession: Liverpool 64%-36% Rangers
Shots: Liverpool 23-6 Rangers
Shots on target: Liverpool 10-2 Rangers
Corners: Liverpool 13-1 Rangers
Fouls: Liverpool 7-6 Rangers
LINEUPS
LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold (Gomez 93'), Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Henderson (Fabinho 70'), Thiago (Milner 81'); Salah, Jota (Firmino 69'), Diaz; Nunez (Elliott 80')
RANGERS (5-4-1): McGregor; Tavernier, King, Goldson, Davies (Kamara 81'), Barisic; Tillman (Sakala 66'), Davis (Jack 66'), Lundstram, Kent (Matondo 81'); Morelos (Colak 73')
Barney Corkhill
