CL winter Ajax almost ruled out after Salah’s record hat trick at Rangers Champions League

Rangers took the lead on the swirling Ibrox after 17 minutes. Canadian international Scott Arfield (33) appeared after a good run between the Liverpool defenders and shot well, much to the delight of the 50,000 frenzied Rangers fans.

It was Rangers’ first Champions League goal since Kenny Miller scored against Bursaspor on December 7, 2010. The joy was short-lived for Rangers, however, as eight minutes later Roberto Firmino made it 1-1 on behalf of Liverpool. The Brazilian striker cleverly headed in a turning corner from Kostas Tsimikas (ex-Willem II) at the first post.

Ten minutes after the break, Firmino also signed for the 1-2. He worked in a good tight cross from right-back Joe Gomez, who was preferred over the much-criticized Trent Alexander-Arnold, at the far post to score his eighth goal of the season.

The Brazilian is currently club top scorer at Liverpool. Halfway through the second half, Darwin Núñez lifted the score to 1-3 with his fourth of the season, with which the game had been played at Ibrox. Mohamed Salah as a substitute with a hat-trick even made it 1-6 within six minutes, making the Egyptian the fastest hat-trick ever in the Champions League and lifting his season total to eight goals.

Rangers remain without points after four matches. With three points, Ajax is now six points below Liverpool and nine points below Napoli, which is already certain of the eighth finals. Ajax can still achieve that, but will then have to beat Liverpool (home on Wednesday, October 26) and Rangers (away on Tuesday, November 1). On that last day of play, Napoli will have to win at Anfield.

For Liverpool, the focus is now on the away game at Manchester City on Sunday (5:30 pm), where Jürgen Klopp’s team must prevent the defending champion from falling behind to sixteen points.

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