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Champions League: Liverpool outclass Rangers as Bayern, Napoli march on
CGTN

Liverpool eased to a comfortable 2-0 win in the "Battle of Britain" against Scottish side Rangers in the Champions League group games on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Napoli underlined their credentials with an impressive 6-1 thrashing of Ajax in Amsterdam.

Players observe a minute of silence in memory of the victims of a stampede during a football match in Indonesia before the UEFA Champions League group match between Liverpool and Rangers at Anfield in Liverpool, England, October 4, 2022. /CFP
Players observe a minute of silence in memory of the victims of a stampede during a football match in Indonesia before the UEFA Champions League group match between Liverpool and Rangers at Anfield in Liverpool, England, October 4, 2022. /CFP

Players observe a minute of silence in memory of the victims of a stampede during a football match in Indonesia before the UEFA Champions League group match between Liverpool and Rangers at Anfield in Liverpool, England, October 4, 2022. /CFP

On a night when a minute's silence was held before every match in tribute to the 131 victims of the Indonesia stadium tragedy, Bayern Munich and Club Brugge made it three wins from three. Meanwhile, Inter edged Barcelona in a tight contest in Milan.

Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool went into their Group A game against the Scottish champions on the back of just three wins in their first nine Premier League and Champions League games of the season.

But they settled quickly when Trent Alexander-Arnold produced a sublime free kick to put the home side ahead after just seven minutes.

Goalkeeper Allan McGregor (L) of Rangers in action during the UEFA Champions League group match between Liverpool FC and Rangers FC at Anfield in Liverpool, England, October 4, 2022. /CFP
Goalkeeper Allan McGregor (L) of Rangers in action during the UEFA Champions League group match between Liverpool FC and Rangers FC at Anfield in Liverpool, England, October 4, 2022. /CFP

Goalkeeper Allan McGregor (L) of Rangers in action during the UEFA Champions League group match between Liverpool FC and Rangers FC at Anfield in Liverpool, England, October 4, 2022. /CFP

Rangers' 40-year-old goalkeeper Allan McGregor produced some fine saves, including four to deny Darwin Nunez his first goal for Liverpool, to keep his side in the hunt at halftime.

However, seven minutes into the second half, Leon King's challenge caught the legs of Luis Díaz to give away a penalty.

Mohamed Salah scores Liverpool's second goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Champions League group match between Liverpool FC and Rangers FC at Anfield in Liverpool, England, October 4, 2022. /CFP
Mohamed Salah scores Liverpool's second goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Champions League group match between Liverpool FC and Rangers FC at Anfield in Liverpool, England, October 4, 2022. /CFP

Mohamed Salah scores Liverpool's second goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Champions League group match between Liverpool FC and Rangers FC at Anfield in Liverpool, England, October 4, 2022. /CFP

Mohamed Salah stepped up and struck the ball down the middle as McGregor was unable to repeat the penalty-saving heroics he produced against Napoli.

"It was exactly what we needed. It was a super, solid performance," said Klopp, who switched from his usual 4-3-3 formation to a 4-2-3-1.

"Sometimes you have to change things," he said.

Giovanni Simeone (C) of Napoli celebrates after scoring his team's sixth goal against Ajax during their UEFA Champions League group match at Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, October 4, 2022. /CFP
Giovanni Simeone (C) of Napoli celebrates after scoring his team's sixth goal against Ajax during their UEFA Champions League group match at Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, October 4, 2022. /CFP

Giovanni Simeone (C) of Napoli celebrates after scoring his team's sixth goal against Ajax during their UEFA Champions League group match at Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, October 4, 2022. /CFP

Napoli stay top of Group A after another impressive victory, coming from behind to hammer Ajax 6-1 to take their tally of goals to 13 from three matches.

Mohammed Kudus put the home side ahead in the ninth minute, but Luciano Spalletti's side bounced back with first-half goals from Giacomo Raspadori, Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Piotr Zielinski.

Raspadori added his second two minutes after the restart and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia added the fifth just after the hour.

Ajax's night was made worse when captain Dusan Tadic was sent off after collecting a second yellow card, and Giovanni Simeone closed out the win.

Sadio Mane (R) celebrates with Alphonso Davies of Bayern Munich after scoring their team's third goal against Viktoria Plzen during the UEFA Champions League group match at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, October 4, 2022. /CFP
Sadio Mane (R) celebrates with Alphonso Davies of Bayern Munich after scoring their team's third goal against Viktoria Plzen during the UEFA Champions League group match at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, October 4, 2022. /CFP

Sadio Mane (R) celebrates with Alphonso Davies of Bayern Munich after scoring their team's third goal against Viktoria Plzen during the UEFA Champions League group match at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, October 4, 2022. /CFP

Bayern moved to the edge of qualification with a third successive win, thrashing Viktoria Plzen 5-0 in Group C.

"We were calm; we dominated, and we were in total control," said Bayern captain and Manuel Neuer.

"When everything is going well, we're almost unstoppable."

German international Leroy Sane struck twice, opening the scoring from a distance after seven minutes and adding a second five minutes after the break.

Between Sane's two goals, Serge Gnabry added a second on 13 minutes before Sadio Mane posted his first Champions League goal for Bayern with number three after 21 minutes.

Substitute Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting came off the bench at halftime and added the fifth just before the hour mark.

Source(s): AFP

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