Liverpool booked a place in the Champions League group stages with a 4-2 win over Hoffenheim.

Emre Can had put Jurgen Klopp’s side further ahead in the tie when an 11th-minute effort was deflected by Havard Nordtveit into his own net.

That was followed just six minutes later as Mohamed Salah recorded his first Anfield goal after Georginio Wijnaldum’s shot had cannoned back off the post.

Can was involved again as the Reds went further ahead inside three minutes through a fluid counter-attack as Roberto Firmino teed up the German at the far post.

Substitute Mark Uth attempted to redress the balance when he pulled a goal back for the visitors with a slotted finish beyond Simon Mignolet.

But Roberto Firmino put Liverpool comfortably out of reach again as he fired home from close-range in the second half from Jordan Henderson’s lay-off.

Sandro Wagner pulled back another consolation goal for Hoffenheim with a headed finish with just over 10 minutes remaining of the tie.

Here were the key talking points from Anfield:

Salah and Mane must pair up more often

 

Liverpool already know it never serves to get too far ahead of themselves.

An over-reliance on Sadio Mane cut giddy anticipation cut down to size at the midway point of last season. It promises to be somewhat different this term.

Trying to overpower teams did not work when the Senegal international was unavailable; in Mohamed Salah, they now have a backup option at least.

And, where possible, the pair should be allowed to operate in tandem rather than represent a Sophie’s Choice for Jurgen Klopp in his starting line-up.

Their combination of pace and equally sharp thinking led to Hoffenheim being pummelled out of all contention within the opening 20 minutes of this tie.

More often than not, Klopp will elect to limit his fire power to avoid a repeat of Liverpool’s season crumbling under the weight of multiple commitments.

But what potency Salah and Mane offer collectively should not be used sparingly, particularly in games where their influence can make life far easier.

New signings still urgently needed

 

They may remain brilliant in attack, boosted by the trident of Salah, Mane and Roberto Firmino, but defensively Liverpool remain nothing short of shambolic.

Comfortable goals either side of the half-time interval handed the Bundesliga outfit two potential yet needless lifelines into this play-off encounter.

Klopp previously insisted that he would have been happy if the transfer window closed prematurely and his current squad had remained unchanged.

Diplomatic though he may have been, he cannot afford to rest on those laurels.

A confirmed place at the continental top table should begin to rectify those issues before next Thursday’s transfer deadline.

Kop rekindles its Brazilian love affair

 

The next eight days will determine whether Philippe Coutinho’s name is ever sang on The Kop again with gusto.

Liverpool remain adamant that it will.

But if the Brazilian’s stay proves to be a brief one, with Barcelona still lurking, the Anfield faithful at least have someone that can soothe their visceral tones.

There can be no dispute that Firmino’s repertoire has evolved greatly during this summer, as his former club regularly discovered to their cost.

His interplay in the build-up to the first-half onslaught may not have grab the headlines in the same way that his second-half strike ultimately did.

However it is clear from the Kop’s adulation that his compatriot may have competition if, or when, his planned reconciliation takes centre stage.

Too much too soon for TAA?

 

A succession of solid outings and opening his account in last week’s first leg suggested that little could trouble the West Derby-born defender.

But pride often comes before a fall and Alexander-Arnold’s almost arrived against the same opposition that had previously announced his emergence.

Had Serge Gnabry not left his shooting boots in Sinsheim, Nathaniel Clyne’s understudy may have found his poor positional sense punished heavily.

Fortune favoured Alexander-Arnold on this occasion but it is clear Anfield’s bright young hope is more a work in progress rather than finished article.