Five things we learned from Liverpool 4-2 Hoffenheim: Anfield brings the noise,Georginio Wijnaldum shines on the sly and Trent Alexander-Arnold still has work to do to be a regular

Liverpool booked their place in the Champions League group stages on Wednesday thanks to a scintillating first-half display.

Three goals in the space of 11 minutes, two from Emre Can and one from Mohamed Salah, ensured Jurgen Klopp's men join Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham in Thursday's draw.

Here, Sportsmail's JACK GAUGHAN rounds up five key points from Anfield.

Emre Can celebrates after putting Liverpool in front early on at Anfield to start the scoring

Emre Can celebrates after putting Liverpool in front early on at Anfield to start the scoring

 

This was the first attendance over 50,000 inside Anfield on a European night since 1978 - only seven times previously had it exceeded 52,000 - and Jurgen Klopp’s Reds benefited from the increased noise early on. 


Champions League evenings have been absent here for three years and you could tell with a real thirst for these occasions.

Anfield saw its first ever attendance of over 50,000 for a European fixture since 1978

Anfield saw its first ever attendance of over 50,000 for a European fixture since 1978

 

These continue to be auditions for Trent Alexander-Arnold and there is a growing feeling on Merseyside that he could well dislodge Nathaniel Clyne this term. 

Superb in Sinsheim last week, he will look back on a couple of moments here when he allowed Serge Gnabry to get the wrong side and realise there is still much to work on defensively.

There is growing feeling Trent Alexander-Arnold could develop into a starter for Liverpool

There is growing feeling Trent Alexander-Arnold could develop into a starter for Liverpool

 

Julian Nagelsmann insisted that Hoffenheim would not be in awe of Liverpool and he was more than true to his word. 

The trouble is, the Germans were too lax early on, not taking enough care in or out of possession. Unforced errors were aplenty and their back five were holding a line way too high.

Julian Nagelsmann's side were too lax in the early stages as they allowed the hosts to dominate

Julian Nagelsmann's side were too lax in the early stages as they allowed the hosts to dominate

 

Liverpool’s early dominance should be something that Klopp looks to replicate as the European season progresses. 

They really need to play on the crowd and disrupt the rhythm of their visitors to prosper. They’re at their best at a blisteringly high tempo and should capitalise more often in the opening thirds of matches at home. This bodes well.

 

Georginio Wijnaldum has taken a fair degree of stick from Liverpool supporters recently. 

They claim he does not affect the game enough and acts as a passenger but here he was lively, bursting into the Hoffenheim box and mopping up in midfield intelligently. Very effective on the sly. 

Georginio Wijnaldum was extremely effective on the sly as he mopped up intelligently 

Georginio Wijnaldum was extremely effective on the sly as he mopped up intelligently 

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