Liverpool put their recent stutters behind them to comfortably beat Rangers 2-0 in the Champions League and move into second spot in Group A.
The win, thanks to a sumptuous first-half free kick from Trent Alexander-Arnold and a second-half penalty by Mohamed Salah, put the six-times European champions on six points after three games - three points behind leaders Napoli.
The Scots, who barely threatened Liverpool to the disappointment of their passionate fans complete with a bagpipe-player, remain bottom of the group on zero points.
In need of a morale booster after their poor start to the Premier League, Liverpool's four-man attack of Salah, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez swarmed over Rangers from the off. By contrast, the visitors' Colombian striker Alfredo Morelos was largely isolated.
Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp will have been delighted by his team's tidy and confident performance, albeit against obviously weaker opposition, especially the first goal from Alexander-Arnold whom he had defended from recent criticism.
Alexander-Arnold, whose chances of making England's World Cup squad are in the balance after recent below-par displays, struck a superb free kick over the wall and past Rangers keeper Allan McGregor in the seventh minute to raise the roof off Anfield.
Nunez could have had a hat-trick in the first half as McGregor pulled off four saves in succession from the Uruguayan striker. But it was Salah who scored the second from the penalty spot in the 53rd minute after Diaz was brought down in the box.
Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur squandered a string of chances and failed to get a shot on target for more than 80 minutes, settling for a 0-0 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt in Champions League Group D.
Spurs, who lost 3-1 to rivals Arsenal in the Premier League, had plenty of opportunities through Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Ivan Perisic, especially in the first half, but have now gone seven European away matches without a win.
Europa League winners Eintracht and Spurs are both on four points from three matches, with Sporting in top spot on six despite their 4-1 loss to bottom club Olympique de Marseille, who have three points.
In an entertaining first half Tottenham's intensity was up from their London derby defeat and Kane had two chances in quick succession, narrowly failing to connect with Son's inswinging delivery in the 27th and then firing just wide a minute later.
Ivan Perisic could have done better when his shot also missed the mark as Spurs lacked efficiency with their finish in the final third.
The Germans, in their maiden Champions League campaign, remained solid at the back and had a golden opportunity through Ansgar Knauff but goalkeeper Hugo Lloris did well to save it.
The two sides meet again next week in London.
Reuters.
