What a night it was in matchday eight of the UEFA Champions League, as all the matches didn't fail to deliver entertaining moments. It was a battle for the top eight, in which every team gave their all to secure a place but there will always be a winner and a loser which is why to be a winner you have to give all your very best when it matters the most and that is what happened last night between all the teams that made the top eight of the Champions League table. Liverpool gave a solid performance at home last night, which is what every Liverpool fan expects from the team with the quality the Liverpool squad possess this season.
It was a smooth ride for the Reds as they secured a win by beating Qarabag six goals without conceding a goal at Anfield. Mac Allister, Hugo Ekitike, Mohammed Salah, and Florian Wirtz all got their names on the scoresheet last night, and to tell you the truth, I was surprised the team didn't concede a goal because that has been the new norm this season. I gave a preview before the match and explained how Liverpool's defence has been bad, plus with the absence of Konate and Gomez I wonder who will pair with Van Dijk in the backline and to my surprise, Gravenberch as the one Arne Slot paired with Van Dijk for last night's match and they performed well on the pitch.
It worked fine last night, although I don't want to get ahead of myself since they didn't face a team that pressured so well on the attack. Gravenberch could still be on defensive duties later this weekend, as I doubt we will be seeing Ibrahim Konate return to the team this weekend because he is still mourning his late father. Liverpool needed to win last night with a good goal margin because take Real Madrid for example, they were in fifth position as of last week but they lost face yesterday away from home to Benfica, knocking them out of the top eight and now they will have to go the playoffs route to qualify for a place in the round of sixteen.
Now the next stage is the round of sixteen and Liverpool's possible opponents are Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge, Galatasaray and Juventus. Looking at the forms of the four teams mentioned above, you would think it might be an easy ride for Liverpool, but it's not going to be that easy, as Liverpool's form is also questionable. We just have to wait and see who comes out on top in the playoffs but if I had to guess, I would say Atletico Madrid has a better chance of meeting Liverpool in the next stage of the UCL.
The Reds can focus on their next challenge this weekend in the Premier League as they will be facing Newcastle United at home. It's going to be a tough game as Newcastle knows how to put up a good fight when they are up against big teams. Arne Slot and the team need to get a win from this match at all costs if Liverpool wants to have a chance of finishing in the top four because winning the league seems kind of impossible now. So that will be all for now, have a good day.