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If the away support at Anfield was a taster of what was to come in Glasgow then the home side faithful had plenty to live up to in order to reach the expectations.
Unsurprisingly, the Rangers supporters at Ibrox rose to the challenge and then some as Liverpool walked out into a cauldron of noise north of the border, all the stands lit up by the hosts' colours and an atmosphere hostile enough to unsettle any visiting side.
The way the game started certainly seemed to play into the narrative that a fever-pitch backdrop was set to inspire Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side as Rangers shocked Liverpool by taking an early lead having already threatened to do so.
Despite the first half remaining an even contest and with the fans still buoyed by landing a blow on what is still a member of Europe’s football elite, Jurgen Klopp’s charges had got a foothold in the game having seemingly settled in their surroundings and Roberto Firmino levelled for The Reds before the break.
The second half proved to be a more straightforward affair for Liverpool as Firmino struck again before a previously misfiring Darwin Nunez doubled the advantage to finally quieten a raucous crowd.
Soon after, Klopp flexed his muscles and Mohamed Salah, Thiago and Andy Robertson all entered what had previously been a lion's den of intense noise, to double down on the Merseysider's dominance as the Egyptian netted the fastest-ever hat-trick to slay Rangers in just 6 minutes and 12 seconds.
With the stadium now left stricken on its sword and Liverpool running riot in Glasgow, Harvey Elliott put the icing on the cake late on to seal a memorable and much-needed victory, albeit many of the home fans had already headed back for the comfort of their homes having been humbled for a fourth consecutive European clash.
For Liverpool, this and the victory for Napoli earlier in the night means that Klopp’s men are on the cusp of securing their passage to the knockout phase with only a point required from the final two fixtures. Providing a welcome relief from stuttering domestic form and possibly an opportunity to prove that The Reds are still a force to be reckoned with this season.
