Liverpool can come away from Wednesday night’s performance with heads held high, especially one out-of-form star who made Champions League history.
It was a perfect night for the Reds.
Liverpool hammered Qarabag to book their place in the last-16 of the competition, ending up third in the league phase standings.
Who was Liverpool’s best player on a much better night at Anfield?
So many good displays vs Qarabag
Liverpool FC v Qarabag FK - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD8
Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
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Six goals from five different goalscorers highlights their dominance, but it was the man putting it on a plate for his teammates who reached an impressive Champions League first.
Virgil van Dijk’s historic performance against Qarabag
Virgil van Dijk needed this performance as much as anyone.
Liverpool fans were frustrated with Van Dijk after adding another questionable performance to his recent resume against Bournemouth.
He more than made up for it with this performance.
The Dutchman is the first centre-back ever to record three assists in a Champions League game. In the Liverpool player ratings vs Qarabag, we said Van Dijk did more in the attacking third than in his own, and that’s reflected in this historic achievement.
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Maybe not something he should make a habit of, but it should go some way to getting him back to his imperious best.
Mohamed Salah got a confidence boost too
Salah and Van Dijk against Bournemouth got the most stick from fans, but both will be happy with their displays against Qarabag.
Who is your ideal last-16 opponent and who do you want to avoid?
Liverpool's four potential Champions League opponents have been confirmed
Victor Osimhen in action during Galatasaray's Turkish Super Lig match against Bodrum (Credit: Getty Images/Ahmad Mora). Joel Ordonez pictured during Club Brugge's UEFA Champions League match against Arsenal (Credit: Getty Images/Alex Bierens de Haan - UEFA). Marcos Llorente pictured during Atletico Madrid's UEFA Champions League match against Liverpool at Anfield (Credit:Getty Images/Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA). Kenan Yildiz pictured during Juventus' UEFA Champions League match against Sporting at the Allianz Stadium (Credit: Getty Images/Stefano Guidi).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Ahmad Mora/Alex Bierens de Haan/UEFA/Robbie Jay Barratt/AMA/Stefano Guidi
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It hasn’t been smooth sailing for Salah this season, but getting that goal — what a goal by the way — could be the boost he needs to find his way back to his typical levels.
If Liverpool are to go far in this competition, they will need the Egyptian at his brilliant best.
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