- Liverpool ran riot over Spartak Moscow as the Reds finished their final Champions League group game on a euphoric high.
- The Reds will progress through from Group E in first position after going completely unbeaten during all six fixtures.
- Coutinho and Mane starred in the superb performance from Jurgen Klopp’s men.
- SEE ALSO: Video: Outstanding Mane volley during Liverpool riot has fans in awe
Liverpool unleashed an onslaught at Anfield tonight with Philippe Coutinho and Saido Mane starring in the superb 7-0 victory.
The Brazilian Coutinho opened the scoring for the Reds on the 4th minute with a penalty with the little playmaker also leading the team out for the evening as the side’s captain.
The floodgates soon opened with Coutinho registering an impressive hat-trick for himself before the hour mark was even up.
The hat-trick makes Coutinho only the third man to register three goals during a Champions League match for the Merseyside club with Michael Owen and Yossi Benayoun the only other stars to have registered a hat-trick in the European competition before for the Reds.
Coutinho’s national teammate Roberto Firmino also registred a goal for the Reds with Mohammed Salah and Saido Mane (2) also getting on the scoresheet.
Mane’s first was the pick of the bunch after executing a super volley in the 47th minute.
Man of the match
Tonight Philippe Coutinho was given the job of leading out the Reds as captain and the Brazilian magician certainly inspired his teammates.
He completed an individual hat-trick within 50 minutes and then turned his attention to providing chances for his teammates. The star’s movement off the ball was simply too much for the Russian side to cope with and his creativity orchestrated the Liverpool onslaught.
Flop of the match
It’s not often that a payer from the winning side will be tarnished with the label as ‘flop of the match’, and it’s certainly even more unlikely when said winning team win by a margin of seven goals.
However, Daniel Sturridge entered the field of play on the 72nd minute with one clear objective – to score.
The Englishman had opportunities aplenty to pick off the abysmal Russian defense but just couldn’t find the back of the net.
The star will have to start taking these opportunities if he is to find more consistent game-time under Jurgen Klopp.
Stat of the match
The little magician…
3 – Philippe Coutinho has scored his first ever hat-trick for Liverpool in all competitions. Sublime.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 6, 2017
Player ratings
Liverpool: Karius 6, Gomez 7, Lovren 6, Klavan 6, Moreno 6, Mane 8, Wijnaldum 6, Can 6, Coutinho 10, Salah 7, Firmino 8.
Subs: Milner 8, Alexander-Arnold 6, Sturridge 6.
Reaction
Liverpool fans were understandably ecstatic from watching their free-scoring side in full flow tonight…
I love Liverpool we are beautiful pic.twitter.com/XRut7Ro0v4
— Serena Ali (@serenaaxli) December 6, 2017
Liverpool have never won 7-0 home & away in the same season since 1892! #LFC
— Carl Clemente (@clemente_carl) December 6, 2017
Goals, goals and more goals…
Salah gets in on the act and makes it 23 for @LFC in the group stage. They’re now 2nd in the all-time list 2 behind the record held by PSG which was also done this season, of course.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) December 6, 2017
Liverpool have scored 22 goals in the Champions League this season. They only scored 18 in 2004-05, when they won it.
— Richard Jolly (@RichJolly) December 6, 2017