Liverpool put their Premier League struggles behind them as they beat RB Leipzig 2-0 at the Puskas Arena to secure a 4-0 aggregate win and a place in the Champions League quarter-finals
Jurgen Klopp's side, who suffered a sixth straight home defeat at the hands of Fulham on Sunday, continued their difficulties in front of goal during the first half, missing a host of chances
However, the missed opportunities didn't prove costly as two goals in four second-half minutes from Mohamed Salah (70) and Sadio Mane (74) secured the Premier League champions' passage into the last eight
Victory will come as welcome relief to Klopp and his side, who secured just their third win in nine games across all competitions
 Their hopes of winning a seventh European Cup remain on track and they now have the draw for the quarter-finals and semi-finals to look forward to on Friday March 19
This was Liverpool's designated 'home' fixture but after their Anfield difficulties they were probably grateful coronavirus restrictions forced them to play in Hungary again
And freed from defensive responsibilities after Fabinho's inclusion in midfield, Thiago Alcantara showed his desire to create early in the game when he opted to lay the ball off to Salah when played through the middle, but following a poor pass the chance was lost
Mane then volleyed over, while Diogo Jota's powerful header was tipped over by former Liverpool goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi as the Reds made a fast start
The chances continued to come for Liverpool as Salah failed to beat the Leipzig goalkeeper from a quick counter-attack and Mane made a mess of the follow-up header
Alisson Becker made one save in the first half from Dani Olmo as Leipzig looked to get a grip of the game, but Liverpool should have been ahead in the tie just before the break as Jota was again denied by Gulacsi before the forward fired into the side-netting on the stroke of half-time
With the tie slipping away from them, Leipzig sent on striker Alexander Sorloth and the former Crystal Palace striker almost dragged the German side back into the tie, but his header looped onto the crossbar
However, Julian Nagelsmann's side failed to build on that as Liverpool eventually found their scoring boots
 Having waited more than 11 hours for a goal from open play at home, two came along in quick succession
A quick passing move from just inside their own half involving Thiago, Mane and Jota teed up Salah to cut inside and slot home with his left foot in the 70th minute
And four minutes later, Mane made sure there was to be no late drama by converting substitute Divock Origi's cross from close range to put the smiles back on Liverpool faces
"Even though they've not been so good in the Premier league, this is a competition that Liverpool always do well in
"Obviously, you look at the likes of Manchester City and Bayern Munich and you'd probably say they are the two outstanding favourites to win it, but you just never know?"If you can get a good draw, keep progressing through the rounds and then get a few players back fit and firing, I think Liverpool have got a great chance
"It's not worth getting a good result this evening and then going to Wolves on Monday and not getting a positive result
"It's going to be a difficult game and I think Jurgen Klopp knows that
 However, he'll just be happy with what's happened against Leipzig and then he'll work for the rest of the week towards Monday's game, which is an important game for Liverpool because they still want to finish in that top four
"But the result today gives them huge confidence going forward
"Liverpool boss : "We created a lot of chances
 That's us at the moment - first half massive chances and couldn't score
 Again, the biggest and best thing the boys did is let nobody see how good Leipzig can be
 They are a monster usually, they are so powerful and you saw all the runs in behind, but we defended that really well
 Big compliment to the boys
"We had to switch off that Premier League stuff, to get here and to give it a proper try
 The boys really enjoyed themselves tonight, which is important
 We were doing the hardest and the dirtiest work because it was a big defending challenge
""The two centre halves played an incredible game
 The whole last line played an incredible game because that is a tough task
 We had to press them
 We defended deep together really well, which is important
 Everybody had a really good game
 It was a good performance
" "We have to
 Last time we played Champions League it was a long trip
 We play next on Monday, that is okay
 We have to make ourselves ready
 If we play like we did tonight it will not be easy for Wolves
"It is a massive difference
"RB Leipzig boss : "I think we deserved to be knocked out
 I think the emotional qualities we've had in recent matches in the league and cup weren't shown today
"We don't like losing but sometimes you have to admit the opponent was better
 We are angry and sad but we'll focus on Frankfurt who we play in the Bundesliga
 It is well-deserved Liverpool go into the next round
""It is a big result for us
 We came here after losing a few games in the Premier League
 The team is not in the best shape, but we want to fight in the Champions League and also fight in the Premier League and see what can happen
"I would love to score more
 I am happy I scored today, and the team won, that is the most important thing
"We have had a few injuries this season, we have been unlucky, but the most important thing is we have to keep fighting
 We just have to take each game at a time and not look to the big picture because if you look to the big picture there can be too much pressure
"It has been tough in the Premier League; we don't want it to be tough
 It is part of the game
 The last couple of years we were winning and flying, this year we have had injuries, it is hard
 Hopefully, now we have two or three or four centre backs we can keep winning
"Restored to Liverpool's midfield for the first time since October 17, Fabinho showed exactly what the Reds have been missing
Used as a makeshift defender following Virgil van Dijk's injury in the Merseyside derby in October, the Brazilian has done an admirable job trying to hold Klopp's defence together
But against Leipzig, he showed exactly why Klopp will try to keep him in the middle of the park from now until the end of the season
He didn't put a foot wrong, controlling the game beautifully alongside Georginio Wijnaldum and Thiago Alcantara
Thiago was freed from defensive responsibilities he could focus on the creative side of his game, while Fabinho's midfield presence also allowed full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson to play higher up the pitchHe also gave the inexperienced centre-back pairing of Nat Phillips and Ozan Kabak the protection they needed to secure a clean sheet to help the Reds keep their dream of a seventh European Cup alive
Liverpool travel to Wolves on  at 8pm - live on Sky Sports Premier League
 Meanwhile, RB Leipzig are back in Bundesliga action on Sunday when they host Eintracht Frankfurt (kick-off 2
30pm)
The draw for the Champions League quarter-finals, followed by the draw for the semi-finals, will take place from 11am UK time on Friday March 19
 You will be able to follow both draws with Sky Sports
 March 16/17 March 19 April 6/7 April 13/14 April 27/28 May 4/5 May 29 (Atatürk Olympic Stadium)
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