When Rasmus Kristensen's precise strike found the back of the Liverpool net in the 26th minute, it seemed like the Reds' nightmare season was about to get even worse. Down 1-0 against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League, Liverpool faced the very real possibility of suffering five consecutive defeats for the first time since 1953. That grim prospect would have pushed Arne Slot's troubled tenure into genuine crisis territory.
But Liverpool had other plans.
In what can only be described as a collective awakening, the Reds staged one of the most dramatic Champions League comebacks of the season, absolutely dismantling their German hosts 5-1 at Deutsche Bank Park. This wasn't just a win—it was a statement. It was a performance that reminded everyone why Liverpool are the reigning Premier League champions, and it provided the breathing room Slot desperately needed after four consecutive defeats had sparked serious questions about his managerial abilities.
Hugo Ekitike's Special Return Ignites the Comeback
The catalyst for Liverpool's incredible turnaround came from an unlikely source: Hugo Ekitike, the man returning to his former club. Just nine minutes after falling behind, Ekitike collected a perfectly weighted pass from Andy Robertson down the left wing and raced through the Frankfurt defense with the composure of a striker playing with supreme confidence.
The Frenchman's finish was clinical, placing the ball through the legs of Frankfurt goalkeeper Michael Zetterer and sending shockwaves through the stadium. In that single moment, everything shifted. Liverpool suddenly had momentum. The belief returned. The floodgates were about to open.
What made Ekitike's moment even more poignant was his decision not to celebrate in front of the Frankfurt fans—a demonstration of respect for the club that had helped shape his career. The 23-year-old, signed for roughly £79 million during the summer, acknowledged post-match that Eintracht Frankfurt had been instrumental in his development. "I have so much respect for them," Ekitike told TNT Sports. "They made me the player I am right now. I wouldn't be here if I didn't come to Frankfurt."
The Floodgates Open: Van Dijk and Konate's Header Show
If Ekitike's equalizer was the spark, then what followed was a pyrotechnic display of clinical finishing. Liverpool added three goals in just nine minutes before halftime—a devastating blitz that essentially decided the contest before the second half even began.
The next two strikes came from the most unlikely of sources: Liverpool's center-backs. Virgil van Dijk, who would later describe the evening as the team finding their rhythm, powered home a header from a corner kick in the 39th minute to put Liverpool ahead 2-1. Frankfurt's set-piece defending was shambolic, and Liverpool capitalized ruthlessly.
Five minutes later, Ibrahima Konate repeated the trick, rising above his marker to head home another corner and extend the lead to 3-1. Two goals in five minutes from your center-backs? That's not a tactical masterclass—that's the opposition falling apart completely under pressure.
Wirtz's Redemption and the Second-Half Dominance
If there was any concern heading into the second half, it evaporated quickly. Summer signing Florian Wirtz, who had endured a quiet debut campaign by his astronomical standards, finally made his mark on the scoresheet. Well, technically his first mark was an assist, setting up Cody Gakpo for Liverpool's fourth goal in the 66th minute with a low, precision cross that offered Gakpo the simplest of tap-ins.
Four minutes later, Wirtz again played the provider, this time for Dominik Szoboszlai, whose long-range thunderbolt from 25 yards out found the bottom corner and completed the rout at 5-1. Liverpool's attacking prowess was on full display, with five different goalscorers showcasing the depth and quality throughout the squad.
Frankfurt, by contrast, looked shell-shocked. A team that had started the season reasonably well in the Bundesliga fell apart completely against a Liverpool side finally playing the kind of football that had earned them the Premier League title.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Tactical Masterclass or Fortune?
Arne Slot made several bold decisions on the night, and most of them paid off. The shift to a 4-4-2 formation proved effective defensively while still maintaining attacking options. Florian Wirtz playing as a right midfielder in a somewhat unconventional role eventually found his rhythm, particularly in the second half.
The decision to bench Salah raised eyebrows before kickoff, but with Liverpool desperate to change their fortunes, Slot's willingness to experiment suggested a manager confident enough to make controversial calls. When those calls work, you look like a genius. When they don't, you're questioned for years.
In this case, Slot came out looking like a tactical innovator who had identified the problem and implemented a solution.
The Bigger Picture: Escaping the Abyss
Liverpool's crisis had been very real. Four consecutive defeats had mounted pressure on Slot in a way that would have tested even the most experienced managers. The narrative had shifted from "promising start under new management" to "is this another Klopp era fade?" in the span of a few weeks.
This victory doesn't erase that pain entirely, but it fundamentally changes the conversation. Liverpool showed they can respond to adversity. They showed they have multiple attacking threats beyond Mohamed Salah. They showed that Slot's tactical flexibility, when executed correctly, can unlock performances of genuine quality.
The run-in to the World Cup break will be crucial for Liverpool. They need consistency now. This win against Frankfurt needs to be the beginning of a renaissance, not a false dawn in a season that continues to deteriorate.
Against Frankfurt, Liverpool answered the critics in emphatic fashion. Now comes the hard part: doing it again, and again, for the next dozen or so matches.
