Liverpool ended their wobble in spectacular fashion, overturning an early deficit to demolish Eintracht Frankfurt in a dominant Champions League night that felt like a statement rather than a recovery.
After a bruising run of four straight defeats, the Reds exploded into life in Germany, ripping the game away from their hosts with a blistering spell before half-time and adding two more in a second half of complete control.
Match recap
Scoreline: Liverpool 5, Eintracht Frankfurt 1.
Early shock: Rasmus Kristensen’s slick counter finished put the hosts ahead and threatened to extend Liverpool’s poor run.
Turning point: Hugo Ekitike, facing his former club, latched onto Andy Robertson’s defence-splitting pass and coolly levelled the game 10 minutes before the break.
Rapid turnaround: Virgil van Dijk thundered home a header from a corner four minutes later and Ibrahima Konaté nodded in another set-piece just before half-time to make it 3-1.
Second half: Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai, the latter with a long-range dagger, completed the rout as Liverpool controlled the game from start to finish.
Tactical tweak and momentum swing
Arne Slot rolled the dice by pairing Hugo Ekitike with Alexander Isak up front, a bold front two that immediately reshaped Liverpool’s attacking profile. The new look initially looked brittle as Frankfurt exploited space to open the scoring, but the switch ignited once Ekitike’s composed finish broke the deadlock. From that moment Liverpool’s aggression and set-piece threat flipped the script, turning a nervy start into an emphatic halftime advantage.
Standout performers
Hugo Ekitike: Delivered a perfect response against his old club with a timely, clinical equaliser.
Virgil van Dijk: The defensive leader provided the second with authority, a reminder of Liverpool’s aerial menace.
Ibrahima Konaté: Continued set-piece excellence with a headed goal to extend the lead.
Cody Gakpo: Found the net again, his fourth of the season, finishing a smart move created by Florian Wirtz.
Dominik Szoboszlai: Sealed the victory with a decisive long-range strike assisted by Wirtz once more.
What this win means
This result douses the pressure that had gathered after the recent slump and Sunday’s defeat at Anfield. Slot’s gamble on personnel paid off, giving Liverpool both goals and momentum while exposing the ruthless efficiency that made them champions. For Frankfurt, the early counter showed their threat, but defensive lapses and a collapsed second half will sting.
Next fixtures
Liverpool: Travel to Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at 20:00 BST.
Eintracht Frankfurt: Host St Pauli in the Bundesliga on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at 14:30 BST.
