Flick claims record sixth win as Germany whack 10-man Liechtenstein 9-0 - in pictures

Former coach Joachim Low given send-off before low-stakes World Cup qualifier

Thomas Muller picks up the ball after scoring Germany's eighth goal in a 9-0 2022 World Cup qualifying win over Liechtenstein, in Wolfsburg, northern Germany, on November 11, 2021. AFP

Germany forward Thomas Muller celebrates with teammates after scoring against Liechtenstein. AFP

Germany forward Thomas Muller jumps for the ball. AFP

Leroy Sane scores Germany's fifth goal. Getty Images

Leroy Sane shoots against Liechtenstein goalkeeper Benjamin Buechel. AFP

Germany's Leroy Sane in action. EPA

Joachim Low, former head coach of Germany, is seen with former DFB president Wolfgang Niersbach during the 2022 World Cup qualifier against Liechtenstein at Volkswagen Arena. Getty Images

Germany fans take their shirts off to show a thank you message for former Germany head coach Joachim Low as a tribute to the World Cup winning coach. AFP

Germany fans show a thank you message for former Germany head coach Joachim Low. AFP

Joachim Low, former head coach of Germany, is honored ahead of the 2022 World Cup qualifier against Liechtenstein at Volkswagen Arena in Wolfsburg, Germany. Getty Images

Former Germany players line up as Joachim Low, former head coach of Germany, is honored ahead of the 2022 World Cup qualifier against Liechtenstein at Volkswagen Arena in Wolfsburg, Germany. Getty Images

Joachim Low is honored ahead of the 2022 World Cup qualifier against Liechtenstein at Volkswagen Arena in Wolfsburg, Germany. Getty Images

Former Germany coach Joachim Low is honoured before the match. Getty Images

Joachim Low, former head coach of Germany, talks to Lothar Matthäus and Hansi Flick, head coach of Germany ahead of the match. Getty Images

Marco Reus, right, of Germany celebrate with teammate Leon Goretzka after he scores his team;s second goal. Getty Images

Germany's Leon Goretzka down injured. Reuters

Germany midfielder Leon Goretzka shoots. AFP

Germany midfielder Ilkay Gundogan and Liechtenstein's defender Sandro Wolfinger vie for the ball. AFP

Germany midfielder Ilkay Gundogan celebrates scoring the opening goal from the penalty spot with his teammate Marco Reus. AFP

Germany midfielder Ilkay Gundogan scores the opening goal from the penalty spot. AFP

Marco Reus of Germany scores his team's second goal. Getty Images

Marco Reus of Germany celebrates with teammates. Getty Images

Referee Ivana Martincic shows a red card to Jens Hofer of Liechtenstein. Getty Images

Croatian referee Ivana Martincic shows Liechtenstein's defender Jens Hofer a red card. AFP

Hansi Flick became the first Germany coach to win his first six games as his side crushed 10-man Liechtenstein 9-0 in a World Cup qualifier on Thursday.

With their place at next year's global finals in Qatar already assured, Germany smashed nine past Group J's bottom side to hand Flick a record-breaking sixth successive win since taking the reins in August.

The previous best start by a Germany coach was made by Flick's long-serving predecessor Joachim Low, who won his first five games before a draw against Cyprus in 2006.

Low, who stepped down after 15 years in charge earlier this year, was given a brief official send-off ahead of Thursday's game before watching Flick steal his record on a rainy night in Wolfsburg.

"I'm happy that we gave Jogi nine goals for his send-off," Flick told broadcaster RTL.

Germany began without several key players after defender Niklas Suele tested positive for coronavirus earlier in the week and Joshua Kimmich and Jamal Musiala were sent into quarantine as a precaution.

Yet the depleted hosts were able to cruise as the visitors imploded early in the first half.

Liechtenstein's Jens Hofer was sent off after just nine minutes when he caught Leon Goretzka in the neck with a high foot.

Ilkay Gundogan converted the resulting penalty, before Germany scored three goals in four minutes to make it 4-0 by the 25th minute.

Daniel Kaufmann turned a Christian Gunter cross into his own net and Leroy Sane linked up with Goretzka to slot a neat finish into the bottom corner.

Sane then set up Marco Reus with a tap-in moments later, and added another shortly after the break before another flurry of goals in the last 15 minutes.

Thomas Muller prodded the ball home from close range for Germany's sixth, and Wolfsburg's own Ridle Baku delighted the home crowd with a curling finish in off the post.

Muller added another five minutes from time, and the rout ended with another own goal as Maximilian Goeppel deflected a Baku cross into his own net.