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Liverpool ended a four-game losing streak with a 5-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on Wednesday. Hugo Ekitike scored against his former club for the English champions. After Ekitike equalised for Liverpool, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Cody Gakpo, and Dominik Szoboszlai added goals, with the latter two assisted by Florian Wirtz, who returned to Germany. Liverpool approached Wednesday’s match facing the prospect of their worst losing run in 73 years, dating back to the 1953-54 season when they were relegated from the top flight. “We’re Liverpool and if we win a game of football it’s not that we’ll celebrate until tomorrow, but I’m pleased we were able to win,” Liverpool manager Arne Slot told DAZN. The Dutchman benched the out-of-form Mohamed Salah, and Liverpool conceded first for the fifth consecutive game when Rasmus Kristensen scored on the counter. The Reds soon found their rhythm, scoring three goals in 10 minutes to lead 3-1 at half-time. Wirtz, who had neither goals nor assists in the Premier League or Champions League since his big-money arrival at Anfield, provided second-half goals for Gakpo and Szoboszlai to secure the victory. While Wirtz broke his goal contribution duck, Alexander Isak was substituted at half-time for Federico Chiesa. “He had to go off at half-time because he felt his groin a little bit,” Slot told TNT Sports regarding Isak’s withdrawal. “That’s a pity. I’ve said many times, it’s such a difficult balance to find with a player that missed three months.” The win will do wonders for Liverpool’s confidence, but Slot’s side will face tougher challenges than Frankfurt, who have now conceded 23 goals in their last six games. “We know what quality we have in the team — all world-class players,” Wirtz said. “We didn’t start well but we came together and turned the match around. I can do much, much more,” Wirtz added about his assists. “I’m satisfied we won and that I finally laid on some goals.” Liverpool’s Resurgence With 26 minutes gone, Nathaniel Brown dispossessed Wirtz before Frankfurt surged up the field. Mario Goetze found Kristensen, who switched to his preferred right foot and hammered home the opener. Frankfurt pushed for a second goal after 35 minutes, but Andy Robertson won possession and played a superb long-range pass to the breaking Ekitike. The former Frankfurt forward collected the pass, advanced towards goal, and slid it under Michael Zetterer, then raised his palms to apologise to the home fans. “I had to score,” a smiling Ekitike said about his return. “It was a great feeling and something special to come back.” The goal came against the run of play but sparked Liverpool into action. The Reds went two up just four minutes later when Van Dijk powered past his helpless marker, the slight winger Ansgar Knauff, to head in a Cody Gakpo corner. One minute before the interval, Van Dijk’s centre-back partner Konate repeated the feat, again powering past Knauff to score from a corner. Wirtz had a mixed first half but looked more assured when Liverpool got on the front foot. The German midfielder set up Gakpo for the fourth goal with a perfectly-weighted pass across the face of goal in the 66th minute. Szoboszlai then sealed the win for Slot’s men by receiving the ball from Wirtz and sending a raking finish from distance with 20 minutes remaining. “We started well, took the lead but at this level you need to be there for 90 minutes. It hurts,” 2014 World Cup winner Goetze said. With AFP Inputs
