**Liverpool downed Qarabag to reach the Champions League’s knockout stage.**
Alexis Mac Allister put the hosts ahead inside the opening 15 minutes by heading home after Virgil van Dijk flicked on a Dominik Szoboszlai corner.
The Reds extended their lead barely five minutes later courtesy of Hugo Ekitike teeing up Florian Wirtz on the edge of the box for a rolled finish.
Mohamed Salah added a third early in the second half as he rifled a free kick into the top corner of The Kop’s net after it was dummied by Szoboszlai.
More was still to follow for the Azerbaijani visitors when Ekitike was able to outpace Matheus Silva before slotting coolly past Mateusz Kochalski.
Mac Allister doubled his tally shortly after the hour mark from a haphazard defensive clearance which broke for him before comfortably dispatching.
Substitute Federico Chiesa compounded Qarabag’s misery at the end of normal time as he fired in from Van Dijk’s historic third assist of the game.
Arne Slot’s side finished third in the league phase of Europe’s elite club competition ahead of the last 16 on the week commencing March 10.
_Here were the key talking points from Anfield:_
Slot finally quietens ‘the noise’
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Arne Slot already knows he is in a no-win situation as Liverpool head coach.
No matter what the Premier League champions accomplish between now and late May, they will still be plagued by what he described as ‘outside noise’.
Quietening doubters and dissent has become an impossible ask with his side just another bad result away from both rearing their ugly head once more.
But a different noise emanated from Anfield in this one-sided encounter which showcased some of the fine qualities its hosts are still capable of delivering.
Virgil van Dijk’s assists hat-trick, the first by a central defender in Champions League history, and an Alexis Mac Allister brace invariably stole top billing.
A resurgent Mohamed Salah’s first goal since November and the blossoming partnership between Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz were added boons.
Andy Robertson’s return to the starting line-up after he was [removed from the negotiating table](https://www.clickliverpool.com/sport/liverpool-fc/63171-andy-robertson-set-to-stay-at-liverpool/) also helped restore a sense of normality to proceedings.
Slot may not be able to fully shut out ‘the noise’ but he certainly turned down the volume, if only for one night on club football’s biggest competitive stage.
…but path still doesn’t run smooth
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Van Dijk was not the only Dutchman making history for Liverpool.
Barely two minutes into the contest, Jeremie Frimpong was laid low with a suspected groin injury after attempting to keep pace with Abdella Zoubir.
The Netherlands international became the club’s first player in over 40 years to be substituted within the opening four minutes of a competitive game.
Slot’s side were not only shorn of an automatic starter but one whose assets have become an invaluable asset in the attacking third during recent weeks.
Worse still, Frimpong’s withdrawal compounded Liverpool’s already paper-thin defensive options with four backline figures already currently out of action.
Calvin Ramsay’s ineligibility for the Champions League added to the severity of the situation, forcing midfielder Wataru Endo to deputise at right-back.
Given that the midfielder had largely filled in centre-back when called upon, Slot may have to reconsider his previously dismissive stance on Ramsay.
Even in a high point of this season, Liverpool’s still path failed to run smooth.
Reds dealt another raw hand
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Given how this campaign has panned out, finishing third in the league phase of Europe’s elite club competition is a genuine achievement for Liverpool.
When the likes of Juventus, Real Madrid, holders Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan all fell short, Slot can rightly point to this as a high benchmark.
Still, if last season taught the Dutchman anything it is that securing a top eight placing no guarantees when it comes to landing a favourable knockout draw.
His English champions-elect topped the standings and were rewarded with a two-legged affair against PSG, whose name proved to be on the trophy.
The potential opponents this time around are not much better, with one of Juve, Atletico Madrid, Galatasaray or Club Brugge soon set to lie in wait.
Two of those have already made Liverpool sweat this term, with [Atleti only denied in stoppage time](https://www.clickliverpool.com/sport/liverpool-fc/60336-liverpool-3-2-atletico-madrid-three-talking-points-alexander-isak-virgil-van-dijk-florian-wirtz/) while the Istanbul outfit pulling off a shock 1-0 win.
Whichever team comes is pulled from the pot in February’s draw, Slot must brace himself for another unenviable test in order to reach the quarter finals.