Liverpool v Rangers player ratings: Salah 7, Nunez 6; McGregor 7, Morelos 3

Reds claim comfortable 2-0 win in the Champions League to put aside stuttering Premier League form

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  LIVERPOOL PLAYER RATINGS: Alisson Becker – 6. The Brazilian had very little to do against a toothless attack but, when called upon with the minutes ticking away, made a good save from Colak. PA

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  Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7. The 23-year-old curled in a superb free kick to open the scoring and had a relatively easy night defending. All his best attributes were on show. PA

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  Joel Matip – 7. Morelos tried to get physical with the 31-year-old but the defender came out on top. He was rarely under pressure. EPA

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  Virgil van Dijk – 7. The Dutchman was composed and hardly troubled. His passing was more precise than of late. AFP

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  Kostas Tsimikas – 6. The Greek’s delivery from wide lacked direction. He had the freedom to range forward and could have used it better. Reuters

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  Jordan Henderson – 7. The captain was suited to his deep-lying role. He moved the ball nicely and produced a splendid pass to create a chance for Nunez. Fabinho replaced him in the 70th minute. EPA

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  Thiago Alcantara – 7. The 31-year-old showed his passing range and dictated the tempo. He was quick to pounce on the ball and stop Rangers getting a foothold in the game. Milner came on for him with nine minutes to go. PA

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  Mohamed Salah – 7. The Egyptian dispatched his penalty with aplomb and frightened the defence with his movement and pace. His passing helped the unfamiliar attacking system gel. Reuters

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  Diogo Jota – 7. The Portuguese ran at the defence and caused problems. He never looked like scoring but created space for others before being withdrawn for Firmino in the 69th minute. PA

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  Luis Diaz – 7. The Colombian’s directness put defenders under pressure and drew the penalty. He likes to cut inside and shoot when sometimes a pass looks the wiser choice. PA

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  Darwin Nunez – 6. The Uruguayan had a multitude of chances but found the goalkeeper too often. His rawness showed but there were plenty of positive signs before he was withdrawn for Elliott with 10 minutes to go. Getty

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  SUBS: Roberto Firmino (Jota 69’) – 5. The Brazilian was deployed in a deeper role and did not influence the match. Getty

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  Fabinho (Henderson 70’) – 6. The Brazilian helped maintain control in the midfield. PA

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  Harvey Elliott (Nunez 80’) – N/R. The 19-year-old joined the with 10 minutes to go. The experience will do him good. Getty

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  James Milner (Thiago 81’) – N/R. The 36-year-old made his 300th appearance and landed a tackle or two. Reuters

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  Joe Gomez (Alexander-Arnold 90’+3) – 5. The 25-year-old was given a short, stoppage-time runout and was secure enough during his brief outing. Reuters

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  Liverpool's Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah (C) reacts to scoring from the penalty spot past Rangers' Scottish goalkeeper Allan McGregor (R) during UEFA Champions League group A football match between Liverpool and Glasgow Rangers at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on October 4, 2022. (Photo by Nigel Roddis / AFP)

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  James Tavernier – 3. The Englishman was left trailing by Diaz far too often. He was pinned back and could not get forward. Reuters

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  Leon King – 4. It was a big ask for the 18-year-old and the task proved too difficult. He gave away the penalty and his positioning was questionable at times. EPA

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  Connor Goldson – 4. The 29-year-old battled hard but was overwhelmed by the pressure. He was lucky that McGregor had a night to remember. AFP

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  Ben Davies – 4. The 27-year-old finally got to play at Anfield after his ill-fated stint at Liverpool. He worked manfully but it was not an enjoyable experience. Kamara replaced him with nine minutes to go. Getty

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  Borna Barisic – 3. The Croat could not deal with Salah. He let the striker run inside repeatedly and was lucky that the Egyptian did not bag a handful of goals. PA

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  Malik Tillman – 3. The 20-year-old on loan from Bayern Munich had a disappointing night. He needed to track back and help the defence but he lacked the application to help the team. Sakala came on for him in the 66th minute. AFP

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  Steven Davis – 4. The Northern Irishman did not, at the age of 37, have the legs to deal with the opposition press. He made way for Jack in the 66th minute. PA

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  John Lundstram – 3. The former Everton man aimed to be the midfield enforcer but he failed to land many blows on Liverpool. His passing was poor, too. Reuters

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  Ryan Kent – 3. The former Liverpool winger could not get involved. He fluffed his best opportunity to fire in a cross. Matondo replaced him with nine minutes remaining. Reuters

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  Alfredo Morelos – 3. The Colombian could not hold on to the ball. He was selected in front of Colak and that was a mistake that was rectified in the 73rd minute when the Croat replaced him. AFP

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  SUBS: Ryan Jack (Davis 66’) – 3. The 30-year-old joined the action in the 66th minute and did not improve the team. PA

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  Fashion Sakala (Tillman 66’) – 5. The Zambian’s pace and movement gave the side the semblance of a threat. EPA

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  Antonio Colak (Morelos 73’) – 5. The Croat was involved in his team’s late flurry and had a snapshot saved by Alisson. EPA

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  Rabbi Matondo (Kent 81’) – N/R. The Liverpool-born winger’s cross-shot forced Tsimikas to make a remarkable goal-line clearance. Reuters

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  Glen Kamara (Davies 81’) – N/R. The Finn brought energy to the team but not much else. PA

Liverpool put their recent stutters behind them to comfortably beat Rangers 2-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday and move into second spot in Group A.

The win, thanks to a sumptuous first-half free kick from Trent Alexander-Arnold and a second-half penalty by Mohamed Salah, put the six-time European champions on six points after three games - three points behind leaders Napoli.

Rangers, who barely threatened Liverpool to the disappointment of their passionate fans complete with a bagpipe-player, remain bottom of the group on zero points.

In need of a morale booster after their inconsistent start to the Premier League, Liverpool's four-man attack of Salah, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez swarmed over Rangers from the off. By contrast, the visitors' Colombian striker Alfredo Morelos was largely isolated.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will have been delighted by his team's tidy and confident performance, albeit against obviously weaker opposition, especially the first goal from Alexander-Arnold whom he had defended from recent criticism.

Alexander-Arnold struck a superb free kick over the wall and past Rangers keeper Allan McGregor in the seventh minute to raise the roof off Anfield.

Nunez could have had a hat-trick in the first half as McGregor pulled off four saves in succession from the Uruguayan striker, but it was Salah who scored the second from the penalty spot in the 53rd minute after Diaz was brought down in the box.

Assessing the performances at Anfield, Tony Evans has provided his player ratings in the photo gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.