Among the many criticisms that have been directed towards Arne Slot this season, the overriding issue for some is that, well, he simply isn’t Jurgen Klopp.
The Dutchman, though, offered a good impression of his predecessor here during a rare display of intense animation on the touchline.
To say Slot kicked every ball would be an understatement, his flailing arms and visible encouragement to his players making for almost as engaging viewing as matters on the field.
Indeed, the increasingly failure of stand-in referee Pawel Raczkowski to address Galatasaray’s blatant time-wasting in the first half prompted one overt demonstration of frustration of which Klopp would have been proud.
If Slot has rarely let his mask slip during a difficult campaign in which his future has been increasingly called into question, this was a rare glimpse of how important Champions League progress is for both head coach and team.
His team selection, restoring players in their preferred positions and a tactical tweak to make Mohamed Salah a more consistent attacking threat down the middle, succeeded where his gamble at the weekend against Tottenham Hotspur failed.
This was a night when even Slot’s biggest detractors had to doff their cap in the direction of the Dutchman.
Andy Robertson delivered a call to arms to his Liverpool team-mates ahead of this game. But while the left-back remained on the bench throughout the evening, it was instead his replacement that led by example.
From the very first whistle, Milos Kerkez was determined to echo Robertson’s long-established approach by taking the fight to Galatasaray, thundering into challenges, persistent with his pressing and launching forward to augment the attack whenever possible.
Having been among many to struggle in Istanbul the previous week – indeed, he was hooked during the second half – this was more akin to the performances Kerkez has been posting since the turn of year rather than his recent regression.
And he wasn’t the only summer signing to rediscover their verve during an evening in which Liverpool players new and old – Kerkez’s fellow Hungarian Dominik Szoboszlai again excellent – contributed in equal measure.
Hugo Ekitike had a fitful first half when at times seemingly on a different wavelength to his team-mates, only to be transformed by his poacher’s finish for the key second, his 17th goal of a fruitful campaign.
Florian Wirtz, meanwhile, grew into the game with his probing passing in the final third and ability retain possession eventually wearing down the Galatasaray defence.
Anfield factor prevails
It wasn’t just Liverpool who emerged triumphant here. When it comes to European nights, there remains no better place than Anfield when the crowd and team work as one.
That combination, of course, isn’t exclusive to the Reds, as was shown twice this season when Galatasaray’s unique Rams Park atmosphere proved unnerving for Slot’s visitors.
The Liverpool support made a point early on of whistling whenever the Turkish side were in possession, but soon the concentration was on backing their own team.
It made for a stark contrast to the jeers that greeted the final whistle just three days earlier after the dismal Premier League draw with Tottenham.
With Liverpool having previously won only one home Champions League knockout game since their last successful comeback against Barcelona in 2019, there had been murmurs Anfield was losing its lustre.
But with Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, Qarabag and now Galatasaray having been vanquished at home this season, perhaps the stadium is regaining its European voice.
Ian Doyle has covered Liverpool for more than 25 years, following them across Europe in multiple Champions League and Europa League finals and as far afield as Thailand, Singapore, the United States, Hong Kong and Qatar, and has reported on the Reds winning every major honour. He previously also covered Everton for 18 years and has followed England, reporting on the European Championships and World Cup final. Once had to tell Jude Law he does not drive a Mini.
