Hugo Ekitike scored against his former club as Liverpool emphatically brought to an end their losing run by fighting back from a goal down to thrash Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League.
2025/2026 UEFA Champions League
1-5
Match Report
The Reds were beaten 2-1 by Manchester United on Sunday to continue a miserable run that included a 1-0 reverse to Galatasaray in matchday two.
It looked like things could worsen at Deutsch Bank Arena when Rasmus Kristensen fired the hosts ahead, but former Eintracht forward Hugo Ekitike restored parity before Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate scored from corners before half-time to turn the game on its head.
Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai were then on target after the break as Liverpool returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion.
Alexander Isak was twice thwarted by Michael Zetterer by the time Kristensen fired through the legs of Andrew Robertson and past Giorgi Mamardashvili into the bottom-left corner with Eintracht's first attack.
But Liverpool were level by 35 minutes when Ekitike raced onto Robertson's throughball and coolly slotted past Zetterer one-on-one before apologising to the fans of his former club.
Van Dijk's powerful point-blank header from Gakpo's corner put Liverpool ahead, before Szoboszlai's corner - this time from the right - was thumped in by the head of Konate just before half-time.
Florian Wirtz saw a free-kick well saved by Zetterer before providing the assist for Gakpo to slide home the fourth, and Szoboszlai brilliantly drilled home low from 25 yards to add further gloss with 20 minutes remaining.
70' - Szoboszlai with a fantastic finish from outside the box
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 22, 2025
[1-5] #UCL https://t.co/4VOqzG8IHZ
Data Debrief: Van Dijk head and shoulders above the rest
Liverpool had looked out of sorts before and after the October international break but were back to their fluent best here.
Van Dijk led by example to put the visitors in front and all five of his Champions League goals have come via headers from a corner. Indeed, he has scored 30 goals in all competitions for Liverpool, 26 of which have been headed.
Since his debut for the club in January 2018, the only player to score more headers for a single Premier League club is Harry Kane for Tottenham (34).
Ekitike was apologetic for his goal against his ex-employees and the Frenchman is now the first player to score both and against Eintracht in major European competition.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
7' A smart save by Mamardashvili who gets down to keep out Jean-Mattéo's shot
8' Isak flicks the ball but it's denied by the keeper
9' Isak fires in another shot from an angle which forces Zetterer into a good save
18' Frimpong cannot carry on and Conor Bradley is coming on in his place
26' GOAL! Kristensen fires past Mamardashvili to take lead! Frankfurt 1-0 Liverpool
32' CLOSE! Bradley gets his head on Gakpo's delivery but it's saved
35' GOAL! Ekitike equalizes in a one-on-one chance! Frankfurt 1-1 Liverpool
38' GOAL! Virgil van Dijk heads home to turn it around! Frankfurt 1-2 Liverpool
42' Nagelsmann watching the match on the stand
44' GOAL! Konaté heads home from another corner! Frankfurt 1-3 Liverpool
46' Liverpool's Alexander Isak is replaced at half-time by Federico Chiesa
49' An acrobatic attempt by substitute Federico Chiesa...agonisingly wide
55' A decent attempt of free-kick by Wirtz but Zetterer pushes it away
62' Szoboszlai drags it wide after good play by Federico Chiesa
64' Conor Bradley goes for goal and the keeper pushes his attempt onto the post
66' GOAL! Wirtz assists Gakpo to increase the lead! Frankfurt 1-4 Liverpool
70' GOAL! Szoboszlai drills low and hard into bottom corner! Frankfurt 1-5 Liverpool
84' Highlight from Frankfurt vs Liverpool
Line-ups
Frankfurt XI: Gotze, Michael Zetterer, Koch, Ritsu Doan, Rasmus Kristensen, Ansgar Knauff, Aurèle Amenda, Arthur Theate, Hugo Larsson, Nathaniel Brown, Jean-Mattéo Bahoya
Subs: Jens Grahl, Chandler, Batshuayi, Skhiri, Dahoud, Aurélio Buta, Jonathan Burkardt, Elye Wahi, Nnamdi Collins, Can Uzun, Farès Chaïbi, Kauã Santos
Liverpool XI: Van Dijk, Robertson, Konate, Isak, Gakpo, Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Jeremie Frimpong, Hugo Ekitiké, Wirtz
Subs: Endo, Salah, Freddie Woodman, Joe Gomez, Chiesa, Mac Allister, Conor Bradley, Milos Kerkez, Kornel Misciur, Rio Ngumoha