Liverpool scored a resounding 6-0 victory over Qarabag at Anfield, ensuring their progression to the last 16 of the Champions League.
Under the leadership of Arne Slott, the team secured automatic qualification by finishing third in their league, and a significant win from Qarabag allowed them to move into the knockout stage, where they will encounter either Paris Saint-Germain or Newcastle United.
The Reds took an early lead just 12 minutes in, with Hugo Ekitike coming close with a shot that skimmed past the bottom left corner.
Alexis Mac Allister netted the first goal in the 15th minute, benefitting from a flick-on by Virgil van Dijk after Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner was deflected, followed by Ekitike extending the lead six minutes later with a precise shot from Florian Wirths.
Continuing their control into the second half, Szoboszlai played a free kick from the edge of the area at the 50-minute mark, allowing Mohamed Salah to curl the ball into the top left corner.
Ekitike made his mark in the 57th minute, capitalizing on a mistake by Bahlul Mustafazada after a Van Dijk pass, deftly finishing past goalkeeper Kevin Medina and Mateusz Koharski.
A fortunate deflection allowed Mac Allister to score his second just after the hour mark, while Federico Chiesa sealed an impressive display with a well-aimed shot in the 90th minute following a relentless effort from Van Dijk.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 28, 2026
Data report: Van Dijk’s playmaking prowess
While Van Dijk may not have intended to assist on both Ekitike’s finish and Mac Allister’s opening goal, he became the first center-back in Champions League history to assist three goals in a single match.
Szoboszlai achieved a remarkable feat as well, being the second Liverpool player to score or assist in six consecutive Champions League fixtures (four goals, three assists), following Salah’s achievement from September 2022 to February 2023.
This commanding victory marked Slott’s 91st match as Liverpool manager, making it his largest winning margin. It also represented the club’s highest goal tally since their 7-0 rout of Manchester United in March 2023.
On the other hand, Qarabag faced their highest-ever defeat in a major European tournament, previously losing 6-0 to Chelsea in September 2017.
Clearly, the stats reflected Liverpool’s dominance, with an impressive expected goals tally of 5.6 compared to Qarabag’s mere 0.22.
As soccer fans, this news highlights Liverpool’s resurgence in European competition, demonstrating their strength as they progress further in the Champions League. A performance like this not only boosts their confidence but also raises expectations for the potential challenges ahead, making for an exciting season to watch.
