Liverpool 7-zero Spartak Moscow

Philippe Coutinho scored a hat-trick as Liverpool became the fifth English club to qualify for the closing Sixteen of this season’s Champions League with a thumping victory over Spartak Moscow at Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp’s Crew E leaders came into the sport gleaming they wanted to keep away from defeat to be definite that of reaching the knockout stage for the predominant time since 2008-09 – and Coutinho gave them the lead with a fourth-minute penalty after Mohamed Salah used to be fouled by Georgi Dzhikiya.

They doubled their relief after a extraordinary circulate eleven minutes later, Coutinho tapping home from Roberto Firmino’s pass.

Firmino netted himself to invent it Three-zero at half of-time, and Sadio Mane’s sublime volley prolonged the lead.

Coutinho finished his first hat-trick for the club with a deflected shot, and Mane added the sixth before Salah finished the rout.

Liverpool’s victory manner here is the predominant time 5 English teams include licensed for the Champions League closing Sixteen within the same season.

Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham will join the Reds in Monday’s plot at Uefa headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

Requested if his facet would be a possibility within the closing Sixteen, Klopp said: « If we manufacture admire this, if we’re that medical, then sure.

« If we manufacture admire this then it is far clearly a possibility, A hundred%. »

Rampant Reds march on

Here’s a large consequence for Liverpool, who didn’t reach from the neighborhood stage on their earlier two appearances – in 2009-10 and 2014-15.

Klopp’s facet include been terminate to qualifying closing month, but Guido Pizarro poked home within the 1/Three minute of added time as Sevilla came from Three-zero down to snatch a dramatic plot.

There used to be no 2nd-half of collapse this time as the Reds produced one other attacking masterclass to substantiate that they growth in Europe’s most prestigious club competition.

Spartak had held the Reds to a plot in Moscow but include been blown away on Merseyside as Klopp once extra unleashed Coutinho, Salah, Firmino and Mane from the launch.

The quartet had scored 12 of their crew’s Sixteen targets in 5 earlier neighborhood video games – and additionally they include been once extra in ruthless temper.

Spartak include been Three-zero down internal 18 minutes.

Dzhikiya clumsily hauled down Salah to permit Coutinho to accept before the Brazilian made it 2-zero after ending a fulfilling circulate started by Mane and inspiring Salah and Firmino.

Firmino made it six targets in as many neighborhood video games before the aim of the evening by Mane – a truly top volley from James Milner’s sail-very top notorious.

Coutinho’s hat-trick purpose came from a deflected shot off Salvatore Bocchetti before change Daniel Sturridge teed up Mane for the sixth and Salah pounced from terminate differ for the seventh.

Having crushed Brighton 5-1 within the Premier League on Saturday, Liverpool include now scored 12 targets in two video games.

Who can Liverpool face within the closing Sixteen?

Liverpool emerge from the neighborhood unbeaten but despite ending top and being seeded they would possibly perchance presumably well additionally merely serene face a European heavyweight within the next round.

Amongst the unseeded teams the Reds would possibly perchance presumably well additionally face are holders Precise Madrid, 5-time winners Bayern Munich and Italian champions Juventus.

They would possibly be able to’t face a crew from the same country so will keep away from Chelsea, and also can’t be drawn against Sevilla, who reach from Crew E as runners-up following a 1-1 plot with Maribor.

The other teams they would possibly perchance presumably well additionally very properly be paired with are Swiss club Basel, Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk and Porto.

« I don’t mind too grand who we get – in most cases I consistently get Precise Madrid so we can explore, » added Klopp.

« There are a lot of in actuality robust teams. This 365 days is pretty particular. No longer in total chances are you’ll presumably well face Bayern Munich and Precise Madrid, but Juventus and the total others.

« We is maybe no longer cheerful when we explore who we face within the next round, but we would be ready. »

Evaluation: ‘Gargantuan on the request – but it will get laborious now’

Archaic England winger Chris Inch, speaking on 5 stay

Liverpool can accept targets and that is the toughest portion of the sport – but arising against opposition within the next round their defence would possibly perchance presumably well fight.

You would possibly perchance presumably well serene explore Liverpool scoring but will they be robust ample at the encourage to take care of that quality?

Liverpool are expansive on the request but it begins to get laborious now.

Man of the match – Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool)

Fastest Champions League purpose – the stats

• Coutinho’s penalty used to be Liverpool’s quickest purpose in a Champions League recreation at Anfield (three minutes Fifty one seconds).
• Spartak include misplaced 23 of their previous 29 Champions League away video games (W5 D1).
• Liverpool became the fourth English facet to top their Champions League neighborhood this season – it is the predominant time since 2006-07 that four English teams include finished first in a single neighborhood campaign.
• Klopp’s crew are now unbeaten of their previous eight Champions League video games, a hit three and drawing 5.
• Salah has scored extra targets in all competitions this season than any other Premier League participant (18).

What’s subsequent?

Liverpool will take a look at to cement their situation within the Premier League’s top four after they host neighbours Everton within the predominant Merseyside derby of the season at Anfield on Sunday (14:15 GMT).