UEFA Champions League 2017/18, Liverpool 4-2 TSG Hoffenheim (Agg 6-3): 5 Talking Points 

Liverpool 4-2 TSG Hoffenheim (aggregate: 6-3)

Goals: Liverpool - Can 10', 21', Salah 18', Firmino 64'; Uth 29', Wagner 79'

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"That's f*****g football!" exclaimed Jurgen Klopp after Liverpool completed a fine move to score their third goal on the night. The second leg of their Champions League qualifier against TSC Hoffenheim was considered as a potential banana skin by many before the match. The Reds, on the night were, however, absolutely lethal as they thrashed their German counterparts 4-2 in front of the vociferous Anfield.

A 21-minute blitzkrieg in the first half saw Liverpool earn an unassailable three goal lead thanks to a double from Emre Can and a first Anfield goal for Mohammad Salah. Roberto Firmino scored the fourth and sealed Liverpool's entry into the holy grail that is Champions League.

Here are the five biggest talking points from another famous European night at Anfield where a young Hoffenheim side got hammered by Klopp's Reds.

#1 A perfect start from Liverpool blows away Hoffenheim

Heavy metal football seemed to have been the flavour of the night for Liverpool as they played like a pack of hungry wolves right from the first whistle. Though Hoffenheim's flawed strategies helped Liverpool's cause it was the destructive nature of Liverpool's attacking unit which ended Hoffenheim's hopes in the first 20 minutes itself.

Emre Can arrived late in the box and scored the first with some help from a covering defender. Mohammad Salah was in the right place at the right time to double their lead while Can scored his second after some brilliant work on the left flank by Mane and Firmino.

This was one of the club's most commanding starts in Europe since a 4-0 humbling of Real Madrid in 2008 with their attack genuinely looking capable of tearing down any team on their day.

#2 Sadio Mane - Liverpool's MVP

Sadio Mane was unstoppable!

Make no mistake about it, the Senegalese is more crucial to Liverpool's cause than a certain "ill" Brazilian. Mane has started this season brilliantly and coming into the Hoffenheim game had already bagged five goals in his last five matches. Though he didn't score on the night, his influence on Liverpool's proceedings was huge.

Playing on the left flank, Mane displayed his blistering pace which we have been accustomed to. He found the overlapping Alberto Moreno perfectly to team up against the Hoffenheim defence.

Mane was literally unstoppable in the first half with Hoffenheim having absolutely no answers to stop the winger. It was one of his best performances in a Red shirt despite the winger not even getting on the score sheet.

#3 A learning curve for Julian Nagelsmann

Nagelsmann's tactics were not on point against the Reds

The 30-year-old mastermind is considered as one of the brightest minds in world football after guiding Hoffenheim to the Champions League qualifiers in his first ever complete season in the Bundesliga. Liverpool were always going to be favourites to move ahead but the way Nagelsmann employed his men at Anfield gave the Reds an easy route into the group stages.

His side looked to contain a threatening Liverpool side and opted a high line against the Reds - a suicidal thought against the likes of Mane and Salah. The defence made numerous errors which saw them lose all the momentum gathered from a late goal in the first leg.

Nagelsmann stated before the game that his side would not be overwhelmed by the grandeur of European nights at Anfield but the truth was that the pressure of the tie got the better of them when the situation demanded them to remain calm. The only positive for Nagelsmann was that he was completely proactive and made an attacking change in the 25th minute after going 3-0 down. And his substitute, Mark Uth scored soon after coming on to reduce the deficit.

#4 Roberto Firmino ran the show for Liverpool

The Brazilian slotted home Liverpool's fourth of the night

When one Brazilian is bringing all the negative press to the club, another Brazilian is hitting all the right notes on the field. Despite his best mate, Philippe Coutinho eyeing a move away from the club, Roberto Firmino is focused on the job at his disposal and is doing that with brilliance. Firmino scored Liverpool's fourth goal and barring his cringe worthy celebration, it was a performance that would earn him rave reviews from all corners of the globe.

Firmino's importance and influence on Liverpool going forward are often undermined by the power of Sadio Mane or the grace of Philippe Coutinho. But against Hoffenheim, Firmino was at his best in a centre forward's role. He made two goals and scored another to cap off a sensational showing. His touches and positional sense were top-notch along while his work rate which was once against evident.

The front three of Liverpool are looking deadly with each passing game week and for the deadly troika to work, the Reds' own Raumdeuter (Space Invader) - Roberto Firmino will need to continue performing at this high level.

#5 Old problems still need to be addressed for Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp still has big issues to address

Going by the looks of it, world peace would be attained before Liverpool solve their defensive woes. Despite being clinical in front of goal, the Reds could not hold onto a clean sheet and conceded two soft goals. The first one from Mark Uth was a mistake from Dejan Lovren as he lost possession from a miscued pass. The second goal saw Sandro Wagner outmuscling Dejan Lovren to head home his first of the season.

Keeping a clean sheet in a Champions League qualifier would have sent a statement to the other teams ahead of the draw today. Jurgen Klopp now needs to delve into the transfer market and find some solutions to rectify the mistakes which have sadly increased since his arrival to these shores.

Virgil Van Dijk or not, Liverpool need upgrades in their backline if they are to go past the group stages of the Champions League.