A sensational first-half performance that yielded three goals helped Liverpool to a convincing 3-0 victory over Manchester City in Wednesday night’s Champions League quarter-final first leg at Anfield as the 'Reds' put one foot firmly in the semi-finals.
Any hope City had of keeping things tight early on disappeared within 12 minutes as Mohamed Salah continued his imperious form by opening the scoring. The Egyptian was set away down the left and fed follow forward Roberto Firmino. His low effort was kept out by Ederson but when Kyle Walker hesitated when he should have been clearing the ball Firmino was able to reclaim possession and feed Salah to fire home the opener.
Leroy Sane fired a low effort narrowly wide just minutes later after driving forward from halfway, but just nine minutes after their opener, Liverpool doubled their lead.
The ball was worked into Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in midfield and he did the rest, getting the ball out of his feet before launching a howitzer of a strike beyond Ederson and into the corner with one of those rare efforts that you just know is always destined to find the back of the net.
Unsurprisingly, Liverpool’s tail was up from that point and their opponents struggled to string five passses together in the face of their incessant pressure. Just after the half hour mark that pressure told once again.
Salah was fed down the right and after seeing his original effort blocked away he opted to turn provider instead, crossing perfectly for Sadio Mane to head home at the far post after he had escaped the attentions of Vincent Kompany.
A three-goal lead by no means flattered the hosts who had been excellent value for their lead, which could even have been extended with the final kick of the half as Virgil van Dijk headed Salah’s free-kick from the right wide.
Gabriel Jesus saw a late goal chalked off for an offside against Leroy Sane, but Loris Karius in the home goal remained untested as the hosts eased over the line.
The result leaves Liverpool overwhelming favourties to progress in the tie ahead of the second leg at the Emirates next week.