There is no denying that Mohamed Salah has failed to reach the heights he did in the previous season. The Egyptian superstar, who won the Premier League golden boot after plundering in 23 goals for Liverpool, managed just two league goals this term.  

This summer, Salah became the highest paid player in Liverpool's history after penning a new three-year contract with the Reds, but his form has nosedived ever since. The 30-year-old struggled to make an impact in most games and remained anonymous throughout against league leaders Arsenal last weekend. 

Manchester United legend Gary Neville minced no words in stating his concerns. "The most worrying performance for me from Liverpool is the world star, the one that's been nearest to winning all the top awards, which is Mo Salah," he observed on social media. "Those runs that he used to make all the time with Mane, I didn't see that on Sunday at all."

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp insisted he is not worried by Salah's poor form, but actions speak louder than words. The striker was left on the bench for their Champions League clash with Rangers on Wednesday night, which has been an extremely rare sight for the Premier League giants. 

Nevertheless, underestimate Salah at your own peril. The resilient Egyptian proved rumors of his fall from grace are premature as he came off the bench on 66 minutes to score the fastest hat-trick in Champions League history. It took him only six minutes and 12 seconds to write his name into the record books. 

According to stats provider Opta, Salah now has more Champions League goals (38) for Liverpool than any single player has scored for an English side, surpassing Didier Drogba for Chelsea and Sergio Aguero for Manchester City (both 36). 

It was a sensational second-half performance for Salah and Liverpool, who ultimately thrashed Rangers 7-1 with Roberto Firmino, Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott also on the scoresheet.

"Typical Mo (Salah), eh? Mo came on and is on fire and interprets the position really well," beamed Klopp after the game. "We all know when it is running for Mo he is exceptional – absolutely exceptional. Obviously it was a different position for him, coming on. I hope everything works for him from now on, like I hope it does for us." 

The result meant Liverpool have won nine of their 10 Champions League group stage games since the start of last season. For Rangers, however, it was their heaviest-ever defeat in a competitive match at home, which left their coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst speechless. 

"I cannot explain. I have to process this, I cannot explain at the moment," he said. "Of course we need to accept the criticism. It's part of my job, part of the players' job... When you perform like this – I don't mean the whole 90 minutes, but the last 25 minutes – you will get criticism and we have to take it on the chin."

As Napoli swatted aside Ajax 4-2 earlier in the day, Liverpool now just need one point from their final two games to assure their qualification, but sterner tests are to come. Klopp's side will face Manchester City in a do-or-die showdown this weekend. 

"We all know who is coming on Sunday," warned Klopp. "It's a night where things worked out for us. It changes the mood. That game (against City) will be different, but it's better to go in with the feeling from tonight." 

Elsewhere, La Liga leaders Barcelona are on the brink of an early Champions League exit after being held to a 3-3 draw by Inter Milan.  

Ousmane Dembele put Barca ahead just before the interval, but Inter equalized early in the second half through Nicolo Barella. Lautaro Martinez fired Inter into the lead again with a solo effort before Robert Lewandowski made it 2-2. Robin Gosens restored Inter's lead with a brilliant finish, but Lewandowski's stoppage-time goal ensured their exit from the competition was not confirmed. 

Barca now trail Inter by three points and their fate is out of their hands. Group rivals Inter just need a home win over pointless Viktoria Plzen in two weeks to qualify with Bayern Munich. 

"I think this Champions League is being very cruel to us," bemoaned Barcelona manager Xavi. "It was too many mistakes, their first goal was a clear mistake by our defense, we let them have too many chances. Football is a game of mistakes and we can't afford those in situations like this. 

"This is the Champions League and you pay a high price for each error you make. You need to win, to defend well, to score. We needed to play the entire game like we did in the first half. That intensity. Now it's hard because we are not in control anymore."