The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Emre Can celebrates scoring as Liverpool qualify for the Uefa Champions League group stages with a 4-2 win over Hoffenheim at Anfield.
Klopp ready to party as Liverpool advance
LIVERPOOL 4 HOFFENHEIM 2 (AGGREGATE 6-3)
Liverpool overpowered Hoffenheim 4-2 at Anfield to ease into the Champions League group stages with a play-off victory.
Most of the damage was done in a sensational 11-minute spell early in the first half when Germany’s Emre Can struck twice against the Bundesliga side and Mohamed Salah also got on the scoresheet.
Mark Uth, who scored and missed a penalty in the first leg, pulled one back for the visitors but the outstanding Roberto Firmino settled the tie before a Sandro Wagner consolation.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp added: “It feels absolutely amazing.
“My team played a perfect first halfan-hour ... but Hoffenheim never gave up. 3-0 is usually a real knock but they were here to enjoy the game.
“You cannot imagine how much intense pressure there was on the boys before this game. We tried to put it away of course and the boys did outstandingly good.
“We should be there (in the Champions League) and we are really excited about who we get. We’re really looking forward to the draw tomorrow.
“But I’ve told the boys ‘have a party’. For sure that’s what we should do, really enjoy tonight at home, the performance of today.
“I love the attitude of this team because they really fight.”
The result ensures England will be represented by five teams when the draw for the group stages is made at 5pm today.
Sporting Lisbon also went on a scoring spree to book their place in the draw, crushing Steaua Bucharest 5-1 following a goal-less first leg.
Qarabag became the first side from Azerbaijan to qualify after a tense playoff tie at FC Copenhagen.
Qarabag took a one-goal advantage with them to Denmark, but lost 2-1 on the night, Dino Ndlovu’s away goal proving decisive.
CSKA Moscow were rarely troubled by Young Boys as they turned a 1-0 first leg lead into a 3-0 aggregate win.
Apoel Nicosia secured a 0-0 draw in Prague to advance after arriving with a two-goal advantage over Slavia from the first leg.