Liverpool looked back to their best in their Champions League win over Rangers at Anfield on Tuesday night
Trent Alexander-Arnold scored a brilliant free kick to give Liverpool the lead in the opening stages
Mohamed Salah then doubled the home side's lead from the penalty spot just after the half-time break
Rangers' Allan McGregor was instrumental in keeping the margin of victory down as the Reds dominated
Napoli will take some catching, but Liverpool are now comfortably on course for qualification in the Champions League group stage. The humiliating reverse in Naples is now a distant memory and there have never been any prizes for first place in the round of 32.
So while domestic form remains a concern, in this competition, their next game is up at Rangers and if this tie is any indicator, there is a gulf between these teams which is unlikely to be overturned even with home advantage at Ibrox.
Trent Alexander-Arnold gave Liverpool an early lead with a spectacular free kick after just seven minutes at AnfieldRangers struggled in the game, but goalkeeper Allan McGregor put in an excellent performance to keep the score down
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The 2-0 scoreline flattered Rangers almost as much as a 6-3 defeat in the Manchester derby flattered Manchester United. Were it not for a heroic performance by goalkeeper Allan McGregor, Rangers would have returned north egos bruised and reputation in tatters. Liverpool have not won at home against a Scottish team since beating Aberdeen 4-0 in 1980, and have failed in their last three attempts, but this was never in doubt.
They were ahead after seven minutes, two clear on 54 and if anything, as pleased as he will have been with the overall performance, Jurgen Klopp will feel frustrated that it took a second-half penalty to put daylight between these teams.
Liverpool should have put so much more on opponents who barely ventured over the halfway line and left their most prolific goalscorer on the bench. Instead, it was only when teenage prospect Leon King brought down Luis Diaz – he got there marginally before John Lundstram who looked set to do the same thing – that Liverpool could feel comfortable.
Mo Salah doubled Liverpool's lead with a coolly taken penalty in the second half to make the points safe for the hosts
Not that Rangers were threatening. Just that a 1-0 lead will always leave a team vulnerable, no matter the disparity between opponents. Once Salah had put his penalty down the middle – he has now scored 10 times in his last 10 Champions League group game appearances – Liverpool had the cushion they needed.
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