Liverpool seal CL group stage place after win over Hoffenheim
Liverpool sealed their place in the group stages of the Champions League by blowing away Hoffenheim on a feisty European night at Anfield.
Emre Can scored twice while Mo Salah and the excellent Roberto Firmino also found the target as Jurgen Klopp's side romped to a 4-2 win to seal a 6-3 aggregate win in their play-off tie.
The Reds will now go into tomorrow's draw having made an early statement of intent they can make their mark on the competition.
Three goals inside the first 21 minutes did the job for Liverpool, who were unchanged from the first leg.
Mane was played clear on 10 minutes by Firmino and backheeled to Can, whose shot was helped on its way in by a slight deflection off Havard Nordtveit.
Eight minutes later, Firmino laid the ball inside for Gini Wijnaldum to strike against the post, Salah reacting quickest to the rebound to net.
Then it was three with the goal of the match and an early contender for goal of the season, a lightning break involving Firmino, Wijnaldum and Mane ending with the Brazilian crossing for Can to volley home at the far post.
Hoffenheim had no option but to go for it and, after a few close calls, pulled one back on 28 minutes when Mark Uth, again introduced from bench, slotted in after a poor pass out of defence by Dejan Lovren.
But Liverpool wrested control in the second half and Firmino calmed any nerves on 63 minutes when set clear by Jordan Henderson, who had robbed Kevin Vogt.
Sandro Wagner headed in a consolation with 11 minutes left for the visitors, but the game was long done by then.
Source: Liverpool Echo
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