Mohamed Salah Rescues Liverpool in Seven-Goal Champions’ League Thriller

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Liverpool surrendered a three-goal lead but eventually prevailed 4-3 against a resolute Red Bull Salzburg as Jurgen Klopp’s side kick-started their defence of the Champions League in chaotic fashion at Anfield.

Klopp knew his side needed to make a statement after a below-par performance resulted in a 2-0 defeat against Napoli a fortnight ago, but this was far from a routine night for the holders’ first Champions League appearance back at Anfield since lifting the trophy in Madrid last May.

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Mane got things rolling as he started and finished the move to break the deadlock against his former club. The Senegalese, who scored 31 league goals in 63 appearances for the Austrians over two seasons, cut inside Rasmus Kristensen and played a sharp one-two with Roberto Firmino before slotting the ball past Cican Stankovic inside the opening 10 minutes.

The 27-year-old did not celebrate his goal, but that was not the case 16 minutes later as Liverpool showed just why they will once more be among the favourites to win this competition by scoring a brilliant second from a sweeping team move.

Robertson began with the ball in his conventional left-back position, but the Scotland international continued his run into the box, and when Jordan Henderson fed Trent Alexander-Arnold down the right, he found Robertson free from Jerome Onguene at the near post for a striker’s finish.

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Liverpool were cruising when Stankovic’s parried Firmino’s header into Salah’s path for a simple third, but complacency then took hold of the hosts.

The last time that Liverpool invited Austrian visitors to Anfield was back in August 2004, losing to Graz AK on the night 1-0 but prevailing 2-1 on aggregate on their way to winning the final against AC Milan – but it was Salzburg who channelled their inner Istanbul.

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Hwang had already caused Joe Gomez problems on his return to the side, but the South Korean cut inside Virgil van Dijk to slam the ball beyond Adrian to give his side a foothold in the contest. The Anfield scoreboard inadvertently flashed up 3-3, but it would prove an omen for what was to come after the break.

“Even though we were down 3-0, you could see us coming into the game more,” said Salzburg boss Jesse Marsch afterwards.

“The goal just before half-time was really big for us, because it gave us the chance to go in and talk about a few things and then come out and push as hard as we could.”

Salzburg carried out those instructions emphatically as Patson Daka narrowly failed to intercept a sloppy clearance from Adrian, but Hwang then turned provider as his pinpoint cross was volleyed home by Minamino.

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Dominik Szoboszlai was then hesitant with his shot when put through by the impressive Hwang, but Liverpool’s reprieve was short-lived as Haaland took advantage of gaping holes in the Reds’ defence to tap in Minamino’s cross for his 18th goal of the season.

But with Anfield silenced, Salah (69) ensured Liverpool’s blushes were spared as the forward collected Roberto Firmino’s flick-on to ensure the defending champions secured all three points, leapfrogging Salzburg into second place in Group E

Samson Oyedeyi