5 talking points as Rangers spared Liverpool drubbing but Gio's counter attack strategy looked suspect

It's Group A for agony as far as Rangers are concerned in the Champions League after defeat to Liverpool at Anfield. The Battle of Britain clash was decided by a sublime Trent Alexander-Arnold free-kick in the first half and Mo Salah’s penalty after the break.

And if it wasn’t for Gers’ keeper Allan McGregor it could have been a far heavier defeat for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side. The veteran keeper made several top class saves to deny the Reds - and £90 million hit-man Darwin Nunez in particular. Rangers remain bottom of the group and pointless having conceded nine goals in three straight defeats. And Jurgen Klopp’s Premier League outfit are next up at Ibrox in a week’s time.

The visitors were under the cosh from the off on Merseyside with Nunez testing McGregor early on. But Liverpool didn’t have to wait long for their opener - and it was a goal worthy of any stage. Alexander-Arnold beat McGregor all ends up from 25-yards with a magnificent curling effort that nestled in the top corner. And Rangers were lucky to get in at the break just one down as McGregor denied Nunez and Luis Diaz with some fine stops.

Van Bronckhorst’s men struggled to create anything going forward and were just trying to stem waves of Liverpool attacks. Eventually, young Leon King upended Diaz in the box to concede a spot kick that Salah converted with ease.

Rangers showed resilience to keep the score down but it took them 84 minutes to record a shot on target - when Rabbi Matondo’s effort was cleared off the line by Kostas Tsimikas then Allison denied Antonio Colak from the resultant corner. The victory for Liverpool put them second in the group behind leaders Napoli. Here's five talking points from Anfield...

It's getting increasingly