Hugo Ekitike scored twice as Liverpool beat Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday, halting a four-match skid that had raised questions about Arne Slot’s start to the defence of their Premier League title.
Match flow
Frankfurt stunned the Deutsche Bank Park early through a counterattack, but Liverpool responded with ruthless pressing. Ekitike, facing his former club, turned provider and finisher as Slot’s side scored four unanswered goals before half-time.
Mohamed Salah added a penalty and Cody Gakpo finished a sweeping move to complete the rout. Goalkeeper Alisson saved a late penalty to keep the scoreline emphatic.
Tactical tweaks
Slot started Curtis Jones in midfield with Ryan Gravenberch unavailable through ankle trouble suffered against Manchester United. The pairing controlled transitions better than in recent defeats, allowing full-backs to push high knowing Frankfurt lacked pace out wide.
Ekitike’s hold-up play gave Salah space between the lines. German media noted that Frankfurt’s high line, effective in Bundesliga open play, collapsed once Liverpool targeted channels behind centre-backs.
English week in Europe
The win followed Arsenal’s 4-0 dismantling of Atlético Madrid and Chelsea’s 5-1 victory over Ajax. Tottenham drew 0-0 at Monaco, but aggregate goal difference across Premier League clubs still impressed neutrals.
UEFA’s league phase table rewards goal difference; Liverpool’s swing moves them back into the top eight conversation with a game in hand on some rivals.
What’s next
Liverpool host Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday before travelling to Brighton. Slot said fitness updates on Gravenberch would come after training Thursday, but praised squad depth for stepping up in Germany.
For Frankfurt, the loss exposes defensive frailty before a Bundesliga relegation six-pointer. For Liverpool, the performance buys patience from a fanbase that had started to murmur after four straight losses.
Player focus
Ekitike’s brace answered critics who wondered whether a summer move from Frankfurt would unsettle him. He declined to celebrate extravagantly, acknowledging respect for the home crowd that once cheered him.
Slot called the display “the intensity we need every three days.” If Liverpool replicate that press in the league, the brief crisis narrative may already be closed.
Broadcast and fans
TNT Sports highlighted the comeback narrative in studio coverage, while fan forums debated whether Slot should persist with a 4-3-3 when fixtures tighten. Away supporters filled a designated section despite midweek travel costs.
Frankfurt’s Europa League win two seasons ago felt distant as the home crowd fell silent after the third Liverpool goal. Local media questioned whether coach Oliver Glasner can shore up a back line exposed on transitions.
Liverpool’s press office said ticket demand for the Villa match jumped within an hour of full-time in Germany, suggesting supporters are willing to return to Anfield after a nervy run. Slot added that defensive set-piece work would continue because Frankfurt’s early goal came from a rehearsed corner routine.