AnalysisFive talking points from Liverpool 2-0 Rangers

A stunning Alexander-Arnold free-kick handed the Reds an early lead at Anfield before Salah sealed the three points with a second-half penalty.

Here are five talking points on Tuesday night’s action…

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Halfway there

Victory takes Jürgen Klopp’s side onto six points at the halfway point of the group stage and sees them handily placed to qualify for the last 16.

Napoli’s 6-1 win in Amsterdam means they top Group A with nine points and AFC Ajax, who travel to Italy next week, are third on three.

Rangers, meanwhile, are yet to pick up a point and a third win on the spin for Liverpool at Ibrox in eight days’ time would further strengthen their bid to advance to the knockout rounds.

The Scouser in our team

After so nearly snatching all three points from a stoppage-time free-kick on Saturday, Alexander-Arnold got this seventh-minute dead ball absolutely spot on to set his team on their way to a crucial win.

The No.66 went low three days ago and high on Tuesday evening, this time executing his effort to perfection as he drifted and arced the ball away from Allan McGregor and into the top corner.

Alexander-Arnold has now scored six direct free-kicks since the start of 2016-17, the most of any Liverpool player.

A change of shape

Klopp had hinted at a strategic shift in Monday’s pre-match press conference and decided to follow through on that idea by fielding four forwards.

Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez joined Salah up top as Liverpool started in a 4-2-4 formation, with Thiago Alcantara and Jordan Henderson in central midfield.

Salah and Diaz were stationed in their usual spots on the flanks, leaving Jota and Nunez to play more centrally. In the 68 minutes the quartet were on the pitch together, they produced a combined total of 14 shots on goal – one of which was the penalty won by Diaz and converted by Salah.

Millie’s milestone

James Milner achieved yet another landmark in his remarkable career when coming off the bench with 10 minutes remaining.

The vice-captain became the 61st player to reach 300 appearances for Liverpool and he has also passed the 50-game mark in the Champions League for the club.

A crunching tackle to prevent Antonio Colak from shooting on goal in the closing moments was textbook Milner, who is sandwiched by Jamie Redknapp (308 appearances) and Michael Owen (297) in the Reds’ all-time appearance list.

Mo closing in

Salah’s goal was his 35th in the Champions League for Liverpool – a running total that puts him within touching distance of yet another milestone.

The No.11 is now only one shy of the record jointly held by Didier Drogba and Sergio Aguero for the most goals scored for an English club in the competition.

Salah is also reeling in Steven Gerrard’s club record of 41 goals in Europe and averages a goal every 1.72 games for the Reds in the Champions League.