Liverpool progress, Salah's strange night, away fans in Anfield - 5 talking points vs Galatasaray

Dominik Szoboszlai, Hugo Ekitike, Ryan Gravenberch and Mohamed Salah were all on target as the Reds secured its place in the next round of the Champions League, with a sublime showing against Galatasaray

Liverpool progressed to the quarter-finals of the Champions League following a dominant 4-0 win over Galatasaray at Anfield.

That secured a 4-1 aggregate victory which means the Reds' European campaign will continue into April. But, perhaps most importantly, for a beleaguered Arne Slot this was a huge victory and emphatic performance.

Dominik Szoboszlai netted the only goal of the first half when he converted Alexis Mac Allister's excellent pass from a corner. Liverpool then wrapped the tie up in blistering fashion at the start of the second period with three goals in the opening 17 minutes, via Hugo Ekitike, Ryan Gravenberch and Mohamed Salah. Here are the biggest talking points from another excellent European night at Anfield.

Vastly improved

The contrast between Sunday's meek display against Tottenham and the energetic, fiery performance on Wednesday was stark. Liverpool, three days after being booed off against Spurs, responded to the pulsating atmosphere and produced the sort of showing these famous Anfield nights demand. Liverpool snapped into tackles, moved the ball with precision and struck when it was on top in the first period. It then essentially killed the tie within the first 10 minutes of the second half with two well-taken goals.

Progress secured

Wednesday's victory will ease some of the pressure on Slot, who answered questions in midweek on whether he has made mistakes this season. Wednesday's win over Galatasaray provides at least some respite, and means the Reds' European campaign will continue after the March international break, when the Reds will face Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals next month.

The Reds will travel to France on 7/8 April, with the return leg at Anfield to take place the following week.

Salah's strange night

At half-time in this second leg tie, one could have been forgiven for wondering if Salah should be replaced after he fluffed his lines on several occasions in the Galatasaray box. The 33-year-old even missed a penalty just before the break, with the tame effort cleared by Ugurcan Cakir's foot.

But it was a different story after the break, with Salah playing a role in Liverpool's second and third goals - setting up Ekitike for the first of those. The winger then fired in an superb fourth with a powerful left-foot strike from outside the box. That drew the biggest cheer of the night as Salah thumped his chest and Virgil van Dijk called for more cheers.

But Salah's outing was to end on a sour note when he appeared to pick up an injury. He gestured to the bench that he needed to replaced in the second period. Slot will no doubt provide an update on his fitness after the game.

Away contingent inside Anfield

Much was made pre-match of Galatasaray's away fans being banned from the second leg at Anfield, but social media was awash with claims that a few hundred fans had made their way into the ground. However, a group that were situated at top of the Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand, surrounded by a heavy police presence were exempt from the travel ban. As is standard for every Uefa game, Galatasaray was granted around 200 "cat 1" tickets", meaning away fans did not manage to bypass security.

However, BBC Sports reported several fans were ejected from the ground in the second half.

Odd Osimhen incident

Galatasaray's no.45 was certainly the player Liverpool was most wary of heading into the second leg at Anfield, but Victor Osimhen offered very little threat to Arne Slot's side. The former Napoli man looked timid all night and was clearly impacted by strapping on his injured right arm. Perhaps that explains his exaggerated reaction to an innocuous clash with Ibrahima Konate early in the first half, to which Osihmen lay prone on the ground, but sprung to his feet when the stretcher was called for. Regardless, he made way at half-time, to compund an underwhelming night.