EUROPEAN MASTERCLASS: EVERYTHING YOU MISSED IN LIVERPOOL’S 6-0 DEMOLITION OF QARABAG
Liverpool put Premier League struggles aside to hammer Qarabag 6-0, with Mohamed Salah sending a message to the fans.
Forget the Premier League struggles for a moment—Arne Slot’s team have had a real blast in Europe. This was their sixth group-stage win, and honestly, it looked like the easiest one yet.
Just like in Marseille last week, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike (both on the scoresheet) plus Dominik Szoboszlai pulled the strings. But the moment that really got people talking? Mohamed Salah is pounding the badge on his chest after finally scoring for the club again. First goal since November 1. It felt like a message: the old guard still has something left.
You could see right away that the Azerbaijani side looked a bit stunned by the occasion. They never really managed to keep up with Liverpool’s pressing or deal with the slick passing—Wirtz, especially, looked every bit the £116 million man.
Ekitike matched him for energy, dropping deep, running at defenders, and showing real leadership up front.
The second half? Four more goals. Anfield was bouncing, all those Premier League headaches suddenly on hold. But with Newcastle coming to town on Saturday and the injury list getting worse, reality might bite again soon.
Before kickoff, Slot admitted things had been rough lately. Curtis Jones was missing due to illness, so only three senior outfield players made the bench—two of them, Rio Ngumoha and Wataru Endo, barely played.
Then Frimpong pulled his hamstring just three minutes in, so Endo, a defensive midfielder about to turn 33, had to fill in at right-back. Not ideal, especially since Gravenberch, normally a holding midfielder, was already covering at centre-back.
Even so, Qarabag couldn’t lay a glove on Liverpool. The home side took charge and, for once, never let their visitors get a sniff.
The opener came in the 15th minute. Szoboszlai whipped in a corner, Ekitike flicked it on, Van Dijk stooped for a header, and Mac Allister reacted fastest—stabbing it over the line before the keeper could claw it out. Just his second goal this season, and his first since he grabbed a winner against Real Madrid.
Moments later, Ekitike did brilliantly to hold off defenders and tee up Wirtz to score from the edge of the box.
Chances kept coming: Andy Robertson blasted over, Szoboszlai shot straight at the keeper, and both Gakpo (twice) and Ekitike had efforts deflected wide.
Five minutes into the second half, Liverpool wrapped it up. Szoboszlai, this time, back-heeled for Salah to smash in a free-kick. Salah celebrated like a man possessed, thumping the Liverbird on his chest and soaking up the Kop’s roar.
Ekitike then bagged a solo goal—taking down Van Dijk’s long ball, nudging it past Mustafazade, and finishing calmly before the Kop. He took his own bow.
Mac Allister made it five, bundling in from close range after a lucky deflection. He could’ve had a hat-trick, missing from almost the same spot, but Chiesa made no mistake when his turn came.
TOTTENHAM CONFIRM MANAGER POSITION FOR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MATCH AGAINST ATLETICO MADRID
Tottenham confirm Igor Tudor will remain in charge for the Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid this Tuesday.
Tottenham has put an end to the speculation about Igor Tudor’s future by confirming he will stay on as head coach for their upcoming Champions League match against Atletico Madrid. Sky Sports reports Tudor will lead the pre-match press conference on Tuesday ahead of this crucial fixture.
Pressure on Tudor had been mounting following a rocky start at Tottenham. There were murmurs he might be sacked after a series of disappointing results, but the late 1-1 draw against Liverpool seems to have provided a reprieve. Before that, the assumption was that one more loss, especially away at Anfield, could cost him his job. Confirming Tudor’s role for the Atletico clash signals the club is sticking with him for now, at least through the next big challenge.
That challenge is significant. Spurs are trailing 5-2 on aggregate after the first leg against Atletico, a match that drew sharp criticism for Tottenham’s performance. The game was difficult to watch, not only because of the scoreline but also because of a striking moment when goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky was taken off just 17 minutes in, a rare and unsettling decision that highlighted deeper issues.
For Tudor, Tuesday’s match is both a test and an opportunity to demonstrate leadership. The confirmation of his position brings mixed feelings among fans. There’s a recognition that stability is important during such a hectic part of the season, yet lingering doubts remain after some shaky displays.
Fans watched the first leg against Atletico with a sense of disbelief. Conceding five goals and that early goalkeeper substitution raised legitimate questions about the team’s preparation and tactical choices. That substitution felt emblematic of a chaotic night, reflecting larger problems.
The gritty draw with Liverpool, though, offered a glimpse of fighting spirit and earned some credit for resilience, even if the overall form is inconsistent. Moments like that can offer managers breathing room in tough times.
Still, supporters crave clarity and a long-term vision. Tottenham has shifted its direction multiple times in recent years, and the fans want a coherent plan moving forward. Tudor now has a clear chance to reinforce his authority and bring some order against a tough Atletico side.
Even if overcoming the deficit proves elusive, Spurs supporters will be looking for signs of organisation, determination, and a stronger team identity. That might be the most valuable takeaway from the clash.
UCL DRAW 2026 LAST 16: PREMIER LEAGUE GIANTS FACE BRUTAL DRAW IN QUEST FOR EUROPEAN GLORY 2026
The Champions League draw is out! Read the full list of fixtures, including Man City vs Real Madrid and Newcastle’s trip to Barcelona.
Manchester City will go head-to-head with Real Madrid in what’s easily the standout fixture of this season’s Champions League round of 16.
UEFA stuck to the same process as last year’s new format, running the draws for the last 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals all on the same day in Nyon, Switzerland.
There’s still plenty of English interest left in the competition. Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle, Tottenham, and Man City all made it through, which pretty much guarantees the Premier League an extra Champions League spot next season thanks to the UEFA coefficient.
With the seeding and pairing rules, each of the 16 teams already knew they’d be facing one of just two possible opponents in the next round.
Liverpool and Tottenham ended up in the same section of the bracket. No surprise, since they finished third and fourth in their groups.
Arsenal, who topped their group, drew Bayern Munich. Manchester City got Sporting Lisbon, and Chelsea lined up against Barcelona.
After Newcastle’s play-off win over Qarabag, they were slotted into their section of the bracket.
Now that the draw’s done, here’s what’s coming up: Chelsea will take on defending champions PSG, and Newcastle will get Barcelona.
Real Madrid against Manchester City is the pick of the bunch, two giants going toe-to-toe.
Liverpool will face Galatasaray, while Tottenham will meet Atletico Madrid.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are set to play either Bayer Leverkusen or Atalanta – a tricky tie either way.
Here’s the full Champions League last 16 draw for 2025/26:
Manchester City vs Real Madrid
Bodø/Glimt vs Sporting
Paris Saint-Germain vs Chelsea
Newcastle vs Barcelona
Galatasaray vs Liverpool
Atletico Madrid vs Tottenham
Atalanta vs Bayern Munich
Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal
And for the Europa League quarter-finals:
Paris Saint-Germain/Chelsea vs Galatasaray/Liverpool
Real Madrid/Manchester City vs Atalanta/Bayern Munich
Newcastle/Barcelona vs Tottenham/Atletico Madrid
Bodø/Glimt/Sporting vs Bayer Leverkusen/Arsenal
The Europa League semi-finals shape up like this:
Paris Saint-Germain/Chelsea/Galatasaray/Liverpool vs Real Madrid/Manchester City/Atalanta/Bayern Munich
Newcastle/Barcelona/Tottenham/Atletico Madrid vs Bodo/Glimt/Sporting/Bayer Leverkusen/Arsenal
As for the dates, here’s what you need to know:
Round of 16: March 10/11 & 17/18, 2026
Quarter-finals: April 7/8 & 14/15, 2026
Semi-finals: April 28/29 & May 5/6, 2026
Final: May 30, 2026, in Budapest
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