Welcome back Liverpool to the Champions League

When their third of the night - a masterful blend of intelligence and style - went in, Jurgen Klopp turned to the Main Stand shouting, "That’s football!"

And this was how it is supposed to be; five-times conquerors of Europe’s premier competition not only restored to their rightful place, but doing it in a manner befitting of magical nights past on this turf - under the lights -  on this stage.

Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane combined to dazzling and devastating effect in the first half, where their combination play effectively laid Hoffenheim’s ambitions to rest.

In 11 minutes, the pair orchestrated three goals, with Emre Can the scorer of two and Mohamed Salah reacting quickest to net the other.

Julian Nagelsmann didn’t want his Hoffenheim side to "hide" at Anfield and instead instructed them to take the game to their hosts, a daring approach but one that ultimately encouraged Liverpool’s greatest strength - their explosive forward line.

By starting so expansively, the Reds were invited to showcase their powers on the counter, and they were obliging.

Inside two minutes, Salah and Mane both had opportunities to affect the scoreline, with the latter denied by Oliver Baumann’s legs after Firmino's superb ball to create a one-on-one situation for the Senegal star.

That exact, dissecting pass from the Brazilian to the speedster was executed again in the build-up to Liverpool’s opener.

Firmino chested down the ball, read the space and Mane’s movement to feed him and the 25-year-old carried possession on. Having hypnotised Havard Nordtveit and Pavel Kaderabek, he waited for Can’s supporting dart around the outside and reverse flicked to him.

The midfielder’s shot struck Kevin Vogt en route to putting the Reds 1-0 up and 3-1 on aggregate.

Firmino was the creative force again after being slid in by Alberto Moreno. He dribbled into the area, motioning for the byline before pulling a pass back for Gini Wijnaldum.

The Dutchman opened his body and aimed his sidefoot finish for the bottom right, but it cannoned off the base of the post. Salah reacted first to ensure all that good work didn’t go to waste.

143 seconds later, Nagelsmann’s night deteriorated further following a piece of team poetry.

Firmino, stationed deep, passed to Wijnaldum on the left touchline. The midfield directed a divine ball in the vicinity of Mane to run on to and having occupied Benjamin Hubner and Nordtveit, the winger spotted the Brazil international breaking ground to support play.

He backheeled wide for Firmino, who lofted a pass across goal for Can - free at the far post. The German jumped and sidefooted in to prompt a festival atmosphere at Anfield.

Seven minutes later, Liverpool were still too celebratory as they completely switched off and allowed Mark Uth to pull one back after Dejan Lovren’s sloppy clearance. The Croatian wasn’t the only one culpable, though, as the midfield and his fellow defenders were also too passive.

Hoffenheim will reflect on missed chances, with Serge Gnabry in particular guilty of not converting them, but Klopp’s men carved out many more openings that weren’t buried.

"This game was crazy," Klopp reflected afterwards. "It could have ended 9-7! But even then, we would have been in the group stage."

In the second half, Firmino was finally rewarded for producing a masterclass as captain Jordan Henderson stole possession and unselfishly played him through on 63 minutes.

"What a game he had today! Unbelievable!," the Reds boss said of his No.9, whose cerebral, effective showing was a delight to witness.

Sandro Wagner headed in Andrej Kramaric’s cross later on, but by then, the tie had been long wrapped up.

Liverpool’s 183rd game in Europe’s chief club tournament wasn’t to be their last for this season, then, as they can now prepare for a 10th campaign in the Champions League group stages.

Source: Goal.com

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.