Liverpool player ratings, winners and losers vs Galatasaray as Wirtz and Szoboszlai star

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Liverpool earned an emphatic victory in the second leg of its last-16 Champions League tie, to set up a meeting with Paris Saint-Germain in the next round

Liverpool player ratings vs Galatasaray

Liverpool secured passage to the quarter-finals of the Champions League in emphatic style as the Reds beat Galatasaray 4-0 in the second leg of its Champions League tie.

Having lost the first leg 1-0 last week, and following Sunday's meek showing against Tottenham, Anfield demand a drastic improvement. On this occasion, the famous old ground produced another memorable European night, as Liverpool steamrolled a second-rate Galatasaray side.

Dominik Szoboszlai got the ball rolling when he finished off an excellent set-piece routine in the 25th minute, before the Reds tore the opposition to shreads at the start of the second period. Hugo Ekitike, Ryan Gravenberch and Mohamed Salah all netted to hand Liverpool a dominant 4-0 lead on the night. It could have been more had Salah converted from the spot, and Wilfried Singo's own-goal not been chalked off for offside in the build-up. Here's how we rated the players, as Liverpool booked its spot in the last of the eight of the Champions League.

Winners

Florian Wirtz pulled the strings from an attacking midfield role and had a hand in all four Liverpool goals. Mohamed Salah endured a tough first half but showed he qualities after the break with a goal and an assist, but it was the under-pressure Arne Slot who will benefit most from this improved showing.

Losers

That Liverpool's effective attacking display occurred without Cody Gakpo speaks to his disappointing campaign, but this was a night for Liverpool to celebrate its triumph

Player ratings

Alisson (6). Barely tested, excluding a tame Baris Yilmaz header in the first half, and a corner that was punched clear late on.

Jeremie Frimpong (7). Made good inroads down the right, and linked well with Salah and Wirtz. It was his cross that was turned in Wilfried Singo for the disallowed own-goal.

Ibrahima Konate (8). Involved in a first-half tussle with Victor Osimhen.

Virgil van Dijk (7). Another calm and composed display from the Liverpool skipper.

Milos Kerkez (7). Helped maintain Liverpool's attacking intensity with his repeat surges down the left flank.

Ryan Gravenberch (7). Set the pace and tempo for Liverpool all night. Like his fellow midfielders, he moved the ball quickly and snapped into tackles. The Dutchman netted Liverpool's third of the night with a well-placed finish.

Alexis Mac Allister (7). A better all-round performance from the midfielder, who set up Szoboszlai's opener with a well-worked corner routine. This was a more tenacious, competitive display from Mac Allister.

Mohamed Salah (7). Missed a huge chance in the 28th minute when he failed to place his chipped effort beyond Uguurcan Cakir., before he fluffed his penalty on the stroke of half-time. The winger was sloppy in the first half, but improved vastly in the second period. He played a hand in the second, third and fourth goals, the latter he finished with aplomb from distance.

Dominik Szoboszlai (8). Got Liverpool on track with a superb finish during a period of the game when the Reds were on top. He also tested Cakir with a venomous strike from outside the area soon after, and won Liverpool's late first-half penalty. Szoboszlai constantly moved the ball forward at pace on another excellent night for the club's player of the season.

Florian Wirtz (8). Popped up all over the pitch and nearly scored in the 31st minute, but saw his strike deflect over. Wirtz repeatedly created in-roads with his mazy dribbles and neat passing. Wirtz pulled the strings for Liverpool's second, third and fourth goals, with defense-splitting passes into Salah.

Hugo Ekitike (8). Wasted some good attacking opportunities in the first half, and fluffed a header and failed to find a pass to a red shirt after a penetrative run through the middle. But he coverted at the start of the second half to hand Liverpool an advantage over two legs and played with a freedom that summed up Liverpool's night.