Liverpool produced a vintage display to turn around a 1-0 first leg deficit to beat Galatasaray 4–0 on the night and 4–1 on aggregate to progress to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals at Anfield.
Dominik Szoboszlai levelled the tie on 25 minutes after Alexis Mac Allister’s clever corner before Mohamed Salah’s penalty was saved by Ugurcan Cakir four minutes into first-half stoppage time.
Hugo Ekitike tapped home from close range to turn the tie around before Ryan Gravenberch’s rebound and Salah’s curler secured progression to the last eight.
The Reds had two further goals ruled out in a dominant home performance to set up a rematch of last season’s last-16 defeat with defending champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Liverpool made four changes to the side from Sunday’s 1-1 Premier League home draw with Tottenham Hotspur as in came Ibrahima Konate, Milos Kerkez, Salah and Ekitike as manager Arne Slot fielded the same 11 as the first leg in Istanbul.
Galatasaray made four changes from their 3-0 Super Lig win over Istanbul Basaksehir but were without the suspended Davinson Sanchez.
Liverpool started the match in a lively manner, pressing with intent to avenge last Tuesday’s first-leg defeat, controlling the ball as the visitors looked to frustrate the Reds.
The Reds levelled the tie on aggregate on 25 minutes after quick-thinking from Mac Allister to pull his corner back towards the edge of the box for an on-rushing Szoboszlai.
The Hungarian drilled his left-footed strike past Ugurcan Cakir and into the bottom left-corner.
Liverpool kept the pressure on as Florian Wirtz fired over from close-range before Mac Allister’s header from the resulting corner crashed off the bar.
The Reds had a chance to double their lead on the night and lead the tie two minutes into first-half stoppage time from the spot.
Szoboszlai nipped ahead of Ismail Jakobs and the Hungarian was caught by the Senegalese full-back, giving the referee no choice but to give the penalty despite initial hesitation.
Salah stepped up and his tame strike went down the middle as Cakir was able to save with his trailing foot.
Cakir was the Galatasaray hero again six minutes into added time as he pulled off a superb double save to deny Salah’s first-time finesse and Wirtz’s follow-up.
Liverpool doubled their lead to lead the tie for the first time six minutes into the second half as Mac Allister slid Salah in behind.
The Egyptian’s first-time cross found Ekitike free at back post to tap home from close range.
Two minutes later, as Wirtz glided through the Galatasaray defence and slid in Salah whose first-time strike was parried away by Cakir only for Gravenberch to lash home the rebound in the bottom left corner.
The Reds thought they had a third goal in five minutes as Jeremie Frimpong’s first-time cross was turned into his own net by Wilfried Singo but Frimpong was adjudged to be marginally offside by VAR.
Liverpool eventually had a fourth on 62 minutes after a wonderful interchange from Salah and Wirtz on the right wing allowed the Egyptian to cut in and curl his finessed left-footed strike past Cakir into the top left corner.
Salah came off to a standing ovation on 74 minutes after signalling to the bench he has a knock and was replaced by Cody Gakpo.
Liverpool had a fifth ruled out on 89 minutes as Szoboszlai’s corner caused chaos in the box.
Virgil Van Dijk got a slight touch in front of Cakir, allowing Mac Allister to tap home from close range but the Reds’ skipper was harshly adjudged to have fouled the Galatasaray ‘keeper.
Galatasaray were able to barely lay a finger on the Reds throughout the night in a performance which was reminiscent of last season after a tumultuous season so far.
The Reds will play defending champions Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-final in April with the first leg in Paris and the second and decisive leg at Anfield a week later.
(Featured Image by Elsa Wiedfeld)
