Ian Doyle with the main talking point from Liverpool's Champions League clash against Qarabag at Anfield on Wednesday evening
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Hugo Ekitike of Liverpool and Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool on the side line during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match between Liverpool FC and Qarabag FK at Anfield on January 28, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Hugo Ekitike is embraced by Arne Slot after coming off in Liverpool's Champions League demolition of Qarabag at Anfield
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Hugo Ekitike had just put the finishing touch on a fine individual goal to further extend Liverpool’s lead when the camera panned to the Anfield dugout. And the beaming smile of Arne Slot spoke volumes.
Following a tough few days in which his position once again came under heavy scrutiny after a 13-game unbeaten run was ended with dramatic defeat at Bournemouth, this was a rare occasion where the Reds boss could enjoy himself.
There would be no late despair, no hanging on, no nerves from the home crowd. This was about as one-sided as it could get for Liverpool at precisely the time their head coach needed it.
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While the Premier League continues to prove so troublesome and traumatic, the Champions League again provided a reminder of what this Reds side can achieve having qualified directly for the round of 16 in third place. One of Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Galatasaray or Club Brugge await.
True, there was the early blow of losing Jeremie Frimpong. But, for once, Slot’s side were able to roll with that particular punch, although it helped that Qarabag, overawed and overrun, were by some distance the least dangerous team Liverpool have played this season.
But if that has not always been a guarantee of victory this season, here the Reds were intent on addressing one of the challenges set down by Slot before the game.
The Liverpool boss had declared his team could still achieve success this season provided they improved their performances in both boxes.
Certainly, there could be no complaints here about their attacking potency as they secured the biggest margin of victory during Slot’s reign.
The sight of Florian Wirtz dovetailing with the big-money striker signing is what the Liverpool recruitment team would have envisaged when they formulated their transfer plans in the summer.
But with Alexander Isak sidelined, it has instead been Ekitike leading the line and his partnership with Wirtz continues to blossom with both continuing their impressive form of recent months.
It was the Frenchman whose hard work invited his team-mate to score the Reds’ second, and Ekitike’s outstanding performance was rewarded in the second half with a brilliant effort in which he outmuscled one defender to reach Virgil van Dijk’s clearance by the halfway line and motored beyond another before thumping home in front of the Kop.
Cue the smiles from Slot. After a difficult few days, even his most fierce detractors couldn’t begrudge him this evening.