Is Salah’s absence the key? Liverpool with five unleash fury on Eintracht

This away clash against Eintracht came at a difficult moment for Liverpool. Four consecutive defeats had raised serious concerns about the team’s form — and early on, it looked like more trouble was coming. The hosts struck first, but that only seemed to awaken the Reds. What followed was a Liverpool symphony: wave after wave of attacking football, ending with a stunning 5-goal performance and a much-needed statement victory. Interestingly, the result came on a night when Mohamed Salah started on the bench. The Egyptian did come on late in the match, but his impact was minimal — the damage had already been done by his teammates long before his introduction.

The first half in Frankfurt offered 45 minutes of pure drama and high-quality football, with Liverpool taking a commanding 3–1 lead into the break.

The match started at a fast tempo, with Liverpool immediately putting pressure on the hosts. In the 8th minute, Alexander Isak controlled a brilliant long pass with a superb first touch and fired a low shot toward the middle of the goal, but Frankfurt’s keeper handled it comfortably.

Just two minutes later, Isak threatened again — this time from the edge of the box — but Michael Zetterer pulled off a stunning save to deny the Swede and keep the score level.

Liverpool suffered an early setback in the 18th minute when Jeremie Frimpong appeared to pick up an injury. After receiving medical attention, he was forced to leave the pitch, with Conor Bradley coming on as his replacement.

Eintracht Frankfurt then struck first. In the 26th minute, they executed a lightning-fast counterattack that caught Liverpool off guard. Kristensen finished it off in style — dribbling past Robertson before curling a precise shot off the inside of the left post and into the net for 1–0. The goal is HERE!

But Liverpool responded in ruthless fashion. After several missed chances, they leveled the score in the 35th minute. A home attack broke down, and within seconds, Liverpool turned defense into offense — Robertson delivered a perfect pass into the path of Hugo Ekitike, who calmly beat Zetterer in a one-on-one situation to make it 1–1. The goal is HERE!

Just four minutes later, Arne Slot’s men completed the turnaround. Cody Gakpo whipped in a superb cross from the right, and Virgil van Dijk rose highest to nod Liverpool into a 2–1 lead in the 39th minute. You can see the goal HERE!

The visitors weren’t done yet. Before the break, they extended their advantage from another set piece. In the 44th minute, Dominik Szoboszlai delivered a precise corner, and Ibrahima Konate was completely unmarked just five meters from goal — heading home with ease to make it 3–1 for Liverpool. The goal is HERE!

Liverpool picked up right where they left off in the second half, maintaining full control and turning their dominance into an emphatic 5–1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt.

The Reds nearly extended their lead in the 49th minute, when substitute Federico Chiesa, who entered at halftime, found himself completely unmarked inside the box after a fine header from Florian Wirtz. However, the Italian winger couldn’t find the net, missing a great opportunity for Liverpool’s fourth goal.

Six minutes later, in the 55th minute, Wirtz himself came close to scoring. The German midfielder took a free-kick from around 20 meters out, curling a powerful shot under the crossbar, but the Frankfurt goalkeeper reacted well to push it away.

Liverpool kept pressing, and in the 63rd minute, Hugo Ekitike had a clear chance to double his tally. Breaking through on the left, he went one-on-one with the goalkeeper but fired straight at him. Just moments later, Conor Bradley came even closer — his low shot deflected off the keeper, struck the post, and bounced away from danger.

The fourth goal finally arrived in the 66th minute. Dominik Szoboszlai played a clever pass to Florian Wirtz on the left wing, who then squared it perfectly to Cody Gakpo. The Dutchman calmly slotted home from close range, making it 4–1 and effectively sealing the contest. The goal is HERE!

But Liverpool weren’t finished. In the 70th minute, they added a fifth — this time with Szoboszlai getting on the scoresheet. Wirtz, who had already provided two assists, set up the Hungarian midfielder, whose low strike from 25 meters arrowed into the bottom-right corner for a stunning finish. The goal is HERE!

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 3

Tuesday

Barcelona - Olympiacos 6-1 (2-0)

/Fermin Lopez 7, 39, 76, Yamal 68 pen, Rashford 74, 79 - El Kaabi 54 pen/

Kairat - Pafos 0-0

Arsenal - Atletico Madrid 4-0 (0-0)

/Gabriel 57, Martinelli 64, Gyokeres 67, 70/

Copenhagen - Dortmund 2-4 (1-1)

/Anton 34 og, Dadason 90+1 - Nmecha 20, 77, Bensebaini 61 pen, Silva 87/

Leverkusen - PSG 2-7 (1-4)

/Garcia 38 pen, 54 - Pacho 7, Doue 41, 45+3, Kvaratskhelia 44, Mendes 50, Dembele 66, Vitinha 90/

Newcastle - Benfica 3-0 (1-0)

/Gordon 32, Barnes 71, 83/

PSV - Napoli 6-2 (2-1)

/Buongiorno 35 og, Saibari 39, Man 54, 80, Pepi 87, Driouech 89 - McTominay 31, 86/

St. Gilloise - Inter 0-4 (0-2)

/Dumfries 41, Lautaro 45+1, Calhanoglu 53 pen, Esposito 76/

Villarreal - Manchester City 0-2 (0-2)

/Haaland 17, Silva 40/

Wednesday

Athletic Bilbao - Qarabag 3-1 (1-1)

/Guruzeta 40, Navaro 70, 88 - Andrade 1/

Galatasaray - Bodo/Glimt 3-1 (2-0)

/Osimhen 3, 33, Akgun 60 - Helmersen 75/

Atalanta - Slavia Praha 0-0

Bayern Munich - Club Brugge 4-0 (3-0)

/Karl 5, Kane 14, Diaz 34, Jackson 79/

Chelsea - Ajax 5-1 (4-1)

/Guiu 18, Caicedo 27, Enzo 45 pen, Estevao 45+5 pen, George 48 - Weghorst 33 pen/

Eintracht Frankfurt - Liverpool 1-5 (1-3)

/Kristensen 26 - Ekitike 35, Van Dijk 39, Konate 44, Gakpo 66, Szoboszlai 70/

Monaco - Tottenham 0-0

Real Madrid - Juventus 1-0 (0-0)

/Bellingham 58/

Sporting Lisbon - Olympique Marseille 2-1 (0-1)

/Catamo 69, Santos 86 - Paixao 14/