Liverpool edged out Salzburg in a seven-goal Champions League thriller.

Sadio Mane opened the scoring against his former club with a slotted finish after a well-worked move by the hosts and a neat one-two from Roberto Firmino.

The Reds went further ahead on 25 minutes when Andy Robertson met a low cross from fellow full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold to convert from close-range.

Mohamed Salah put Jurgen Klopp’s side three goals to the good when he followed up after Cican Stankovic saved a Firmino header teed up by Mane.

But Salzburg reduced the deficit almost immediately as Hee-Chang Hwang tied Virgil van Dijk in knots before drilling a shot into the Kop’s net.

After the break, the visitors pulled another goal back with a counter-attack that was rounded off with Takumi Minamino hitting a downward volley past Adrian.

Substitute Erling Haaland completed the Austrian Bundesliga side’s comeback when he swept home an easy finish from a Minamino cut-back.

However Salah would have the last word as he scored Liverpool’s all-important fourth goal after Firmino’s flick-on header allowed him to fire past Stankovic.

Here were the key talking points from Anfield:

Reds roll back the months

 

Anfield’s previous European night, five months ago, was one to truly savour. An impossible dream became reality. Tonight, history came full-circle. Almost.

Liverpool still needed four goals to negotiate their latest Champions League home outing but not quite in the fashion that they eliminated Barcelona.

There was still no shortage of similarities with that improbable semi-final win. Quickly-taken corners, a white hot atmosphere and goals: this game had it, too.

Salzburg were made to look ordinary in the first half but showed after the interval that they will not be pushovers by any means in this Group E campaign.

Once more Jurgen Klopp’s side were made to work for the win. A three-goal deficit was traded for a two-goal headstart which nearly became their undoing.

A tale of two centre-backs

 

Virgil van Dijk remains odds-on favourite to win the Ballon d’Or.

But Salzburg struck a blow for his case to usurp the Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo duopoly when the award to crown the world’s best player is announced.

Hee-Chan Hwang and Takumi Minamino were able to routinely tied him in knots, not least when the former pulled back a goal for the visitors late in the first half.

The build-up to Hwang’s effort made for ugly viewing in real-time and will be an even more uncomfortable viewing experience for the Dutchman in retrospect.

His role in Erling Haaland’s equaliser proved equally unflattering but while Van Dijk’s rare off-night was noticeable, he was far less in-demand than usual.

Whether borne of fear or simply being starstruck, the visitors elected to target Joe Gomez at regular intervals rather than his defensive partner.

The England international initially fared promisingly and later successfully held off Patson Daka as Salzburg relentlessly pressed for a second equaliser.

In between, though, Gomez still lacked the confidence to permanently dislodge Joel Matip as one half of Liverpool’s first-choice central pairing.

Anfield will be crucial again

 

Home form proved Liverpool’s great salvation en route to claiming the Champions League and it looks like they will need to harness it again.

If the defeat to Napoli a fortnight ago had hinted that Anfield is going to be pivotal in reaching the knock-out stages, this victory became merely confirmed it.

The European champions continue to alternate between Jekyll and Hyde but the latter is showing signs of merging into the former where home soil is concerned.

Liverpool remain unbeaten in their previous 23 outings in continental football at Anfield – a run which now stretches back to exactly five years ago this month.

On its 100th European outing, their stadium’s importance was further elevated.

Klopp still checkmates Marsch

 

Outwitted and pegged back, Jesse Marsch appeared to have Klopp’s number after a tactical tweak allowed Salzburg to turn the tables early in the second half.

The American used a diamond formation and unleashed the burgeoning talent of Haaland from the substitutes’ bench to successfully reverse the 3-1 scoreline.

Unfortunately for Marsch, Klopp still had one more trick up his sleeve.

Liverpool’s midfield had lacked its usual cutting edge, with Gini Wijnaldum struggling to impose himself while Jordan Henderson appeared out of sorts.

In James Milner, Klopp opted for composure while Divock Origi allowed the hosts to ramp up their fire power in search of that all-important fourth goal.

Within five minutes of the pair being withdrawn, they were back ahead.