GLASGOW — A hat trick from substitute Mohamed Salah helped Liverpool come from behind to thrash Rangers 7-1 on Wednesday to put themselves on the verge of qualification for the Champions League knockout stages.
Salah Hat Trick vs Rangers
6 - Mo Salah has scored a hat-trick with just six minutes and 12 seconds between his first and third goals, the quickest ever in UEFA Champions League history. Lightning. pic.twitter.com/cuZ2YquoiF
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 12, 2022
In a cauldron-like atmosphere in Glasgow, a much-changed Liverpool side struggled to get going early on, and found themselves behind as Scott Arfield slotted home 17 minutes in to lift the roof off Ibrox.
Rangers cut through Liverpool pic.twitter.com/QDPRPcvsFk
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) October 12, 2022
That lead lasted less than eight minutes, however, as Roberto Firmino continued his prolific season with a near-post header to level things up from a corner.
Bobby Firmino made that look too easy. pic.twitter.com/FywPjnv59N
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) October 12, 2022
Liverpool were much the better team in the second half and deservedly edged back in front 10 minutes after the interval, Firmino converting Joe Gomez's pinpoint low cross.
Pin point ball from Joe Gomez to set up Firmino pic.twitter.com/ydi51sV4iv
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) October 12, 2022
With Rangers chasing the game, a fine finish from close-season signing Darwin Nunez put the game beyond the hosts before Salah, who started the match on the bench, fired a six-minute treble to turn a hard-fought win into a rout.
Harvey Elliott added to the home side's embarrassment with a late seventh, putting the seal on a victory that means Liverpool are second in Group A, and need just one point from their final two matches to be sure of a spot in the knockout stages, while Rangers are bottom, without a single point.
(Reporting by Peter Hall Editing by Toby Davis)
