Liverpool 6-0 Qarabag: Champions League Night Offers Rare Relief at Anfield
Liverpool’s emphatic 6-0 win over Qarabag at Anfield was always going to be framed by context. A Premier League champion side, heavily backed in the transfer market, against opposition David Lynch described as “kind of a minnow really that Liverpool would be expected to swat aside.”
Yet as Lynch stressed on his YouTube channel post-match podcast, this result mattered precisely because Liverpool have not consistently delivered this type of performance all season.
“I don’t think it’s a given that Liverpool play well and win as comfortably as they do in the end, particularly in this season where they’ve had so many issues and so many struggles,” Lynch said.
What followed was not merely routine. It was one of Liverpool’s most complete displays of the campaign.
Performance and result finally aligned
Lynch highlighted that Liverpool have often beaten teams without convincing, or played well without getting the outcome. Against Qarabag, both aligned.
“I thought it was a really really good performance and an excellent result on top of that,” he said. “That has not happened where we’ve seen the kind of performance and the results of both being good and both matched each other together at once in this season.”
The scale of dominance was reflected in the data. Liverpool recorded 38 shots to five, won the shots on target battle 12-1, and posted expected goals of 5.6 to Qarabag’s 0.22.
“I don’t think in my years where I’ve been talking about xG as a metric I’ve ever said 5.6 for Liverpool or a number even close to that,” Lynch added. “That’s absolutely ridiculous numbers.”
Champions League form telling a different story
The Liverpool and Qarabag tie also reinforced a theme of Liverpool being far more effective in Europe than domestically this season.
Lynch pointed to strong group stage results, including wins over Benfica and Eintracht Frankfurt, plus a draw with Chelsea.
“They picked up 10 points in the Champions League. That is no mean feat,” he said. “Liverpool are just a better side in the Champions League this season, aren’t they?”
That contrast, Lynch argued, may define Liverpool’s season.
“Maybe this competition just suits Liverpool this season,” he said. “Maybe we might just see a better Liverpool this season in the Champions League than we do the Premier League.”
Cruising allowed rotation and youth minutes
One of the most notable aspects of the Liverpool and Qarabag game was how early control allowed Liverpool to manage the game.
“It was a very very rare opportunity that they’ve got to do this in any game this season but they were actually cruising in the game,” Lynch said.
That created space for rotation and youth involvement.
“We see Nyoni, we see Enamoah getting minutes and most importantly for me I thought getting Amara Nallo on the pitch as well I thought was a wonderful touch,” Lynch said.
On Nallo in particular, Lynch added, “That was excellent management to get the kids on and particularly Nallo and a really good moment for him to come away now from a first team experience that wasn’t negative.”
Standout individuals and attacking authority
Several senior players drew praise. Lynch described Ekitike as “fantastic tonight” and said, “What a signing he has proved to be.”
On his composure, Lynch noted, “He’s very very capable as a goal threat as well and I think we saw that again today.”
Florian Wirtz also impressed.
“He’s really starting to cook and I’m love watching him to be honest,” Lynch said, noting seven goal contributions in his last 10 appearances.
Alexis Mac Allister scored twice, while Virgil van Dijk delivered three assists.
“Imperious as ever,” Lynch said of Van Dijk. “Three assists. I don’t think that’s ever happened in the Champions League from a defender before.”
Set pieces were another key theme.
“Prior to this game they were top in the Champions League for set piece goals with six,” Lynch said. “They’ve got another one tonight.”
Liverpool, Qarabag and cautious optimism
Lynch was careful not to overreach on what this means long term.
“Just judge each game on its merits and this was a very very good one,” he said.
Yet for Liverpool, and in the context of a turbulent season, the Qarabag win represented something rare.
“For tonight, Liverpool were excellent,” Lynch concluded. “Liverpool are through in third in the Champions League group stage, which once looked very unlikely this season.”
In a campaign where positives have been hard to find, Liverpool and Qarabag delivered a reminder of what this side can still produce, particularly under European lights.
