Ekitike scores against former team as Liverpool thrash Frankfurt 5-1

FRANKFURT, Germany :Liverpool scored three goals in nine first-half minutes in a 5-1 Champions League thrashing of Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday, ending their woeful streak of four consecutive losses across all competitions.

Frankfurt started well and opened the scoring when Rasmus Kristensen struck in the 26th minute, firing past the outstretched hands of goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and in off the far post.

But Hugo Ekitike drew the Reds level with a breakaway goal against his former team in the 35th minute, collecting a long pass from Andy Robertson and racing through from the halfway line before calmly slotting past goalkeeper Michael Zetterer.

The floodgates opened as captain Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate headed home from corners in the 38th and 43rd minutes. Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai struck in the second half on a night that turned ugly for the home side.

The decisive victory was a much-needed confidence boost for Arne Slot's reigning Premier League champions, who had lost four straight games for the first time since November 2014.