Eintracht Frankfurt downed by Florian Wirtz-inspired Liverpool in UEFA Champions League

After a promising start to the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League, Eintracht Frankfurt are playing catch-up in the competition's league phase after back-to-back losses, the latest of which came at the hands of a Liverpool team showing renewed confidence.

Eintracht Frankfurt 1-5 Liverpool
Goals: 1-0 Kristensen 26’ (assist: Götze), 1-1 Ekitiké 35’ (assist: Robertson), 1-2 Van Dijk 39’ (assist: Gakpo), 1-3 Konaté 44’ (assist: Szoboszlai), 1-4 Gakpo 66’ (assist: Wirtz), 1-5 Szoboszlai 70’ (assist: Wirtz)

In what was only a second-ever meeting between these teams, the game started at an electric pace in damp conditions. The hosts produced the first chance after just six minutes when Jean-Mattéo Bahoya’s strike was well saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili in the Liverpool goal.

The visiting side – who came into this game with four straight losses – responded in kind. Recent signing Alexander Isak enjoyed two chances in quick succession, but on both occasions was denied by top saves from Michael Zetterer, replacing the benched Kauã Santos.

Zetterer would later make an outstanding stop to deny Liverpool substitute Conor Bradley, a save that kept Eintracht in front after Rasmus Kristensen’s drilled strike into the corner of the net gave the Eagles lift-off.

Rasmus Kristensen (l.) fired Eintracht into the lead. - Christian Kaspar-Bartke

Unshaken, Liverpool rallied and they were soon level when one-time Frankfurt hero Hugo Ekitiké converted Andy Robertson’s pass. It was to get even better for the six-time European champions when defenders Virgil van Dijk and then Ibrahima Konaté both scored from corners to give the visitors daylight on the scoreboard.

Things didn't get much better for Die Adler after the restart as Arne Slot's men continued where they left off in the first half.

Having showed glimpses of his former Bundesliga class in the opening 45 minutes, Wirtz picked up his very first goal involvements for his new side. 

The ex-Bayer Leverkusen player first laid one on a plate for Cody Gakpo to make it 4-1. The one-time Bundesliga Player of the Season was involved again as Liverpool scored once more, with Dominik Szoboszlai completing the scoring, and Eintracht's misery. 

Next up for Toppmöller & Co.  in the Champions League is a trip to face Napoli on 4 November. 

Florian Wirtz (l.) kept Eintracht on their toes all evening. - KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV

About the players

42

Can

Uzun

Eintracht Frankfurt

9

Jonathan

Burkardt

Eintracht Frankfurt

Match stats

• Ekitiké has scored six times for Liverpool since joining the club from Frankfurt in the summer – more than any of his team-mates so far this season.
• Liverpool's third of the night was their 300th away goal in European competition.
• Frankfurt have now lost just two of their last seven European matches on home soil (L1).
• The only previous meetings between these sides came in the first round of the 1972/73 UEFA Cup. The Eagles were beaten 2-0 at Anfield before playing out a goalless draw at home.
• Konaté and Szoboszlai are ex-RB Leipzig, while Jeremie Frimpong played alongside Wirtz at Leverkusen.

Teams

Frankfurt: Zetterer - Amenda, Koch, Theate - Kristensen (Collins 59'), Götze (Can Uzun 64'), Larsson, Brown, Dōan (Chaibi 64'), Bahoya (Burkardt 59') - Knauff (Skhiri 76')
Unused subs: Grahl, Kauã Santos, Wahi, Dahoud, Chandler, Buta, Batshuayi
Out: Baum (thigh), Højlund (thigh), Ngankam (ineligible)
Coach: Dino Toppmöller

Liverpool: Mamardashvili - Frimpong (Bradley 19'), Konaté (Gomez 74'), Van Dijk, Robertson - Jones, Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Gakpo (Mac Allister 74') - Isak (Chiesa 46'), Ekitiké (Salah 74')
Unused subs: Woodman, Misciur, Endo, Kerkez, Ngumoha
Out: Alisson (hamstring), Leoni (knee ligament), Bajčetić (hamstring), Gravenberch (ankle)
Coach: Arne Slot

As it happened!

1 - 5

(1 - 3)

Frankfurt

FINAL

Liverpool

Champions League
League phase, Matchday 3 League phase, Matchday 3 Deutsche Bank Park

Full-time: Eintracht 1-5 Liverpool

It's a second successive 5-1 loss for Eintracht in the UCL league phase and Dino Topmöller's team have plenty to do before visiting Napoli in their next game in this tournament on 4 November.

© KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV

86'

Chaibi effort

This is better from Frankfurt as Farès Chaïbi almost hits the target as the game ticks down.

83'

Strong support

Despite the home side's travails here, the Eintracht fans have been non-stop on their support for the Eagles.

78'

Salah goes close

Liverpool's sub is fed by Chiesa but the former can't find a way through Zetterer, who makes ones more save.

76'

Substitution

Ellyes Skhiri

Ansgar Knauff

73'

Substitution

Gomez

Konaté

73'

Substitution

Mac Allister

Gakpo

73'

Substitution

Salah

Ekitiké

70'

Another one

It's a fifth for Liverpool and the big news for Bundesliga fans is that former Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz has one more assist, the Germany international feeding Dominik Szoboszlai to apply the finish.

70'

Szoboszlai

GOAL!

1:5

66'

Reds home free?

It's a fourth goal for Liverpool and Dutch attacker Cody Gakpo has the simplest of tasks to knock home after a fine Florian Wirtz assist.

66'

Gakpo

GOAL!

1:4

64'

Substitution

Farès Chaïbi

Ritsu Dōan

64'

Substitution

Can Uzun

Mario Götze

63'

Almost Liverpool again

These are worrying times for Eintracht. Ekitiké misses with a shot before Zetterer makes a super save to deny Bradley.

62'

Szoboszlai's fall

Szoboszlai is brilliantly set up by Wirtz, but the Hungary international slips and the chance is gone.

60'

Double change

Dino Toppmöller makes his move with regular starters Burkardt and Collins coming on.

59'

Substitution

Jonathan Burkardt

Jean-Mattéo Bahoya

59'

Substitution

Nnamdi Collins

Rasmus Kristensen

58'

Corner cleared

An excellently delivered corner from Ritsu Dōan is cleared by Liverpool captain van Dijk.

56'

Super save

Zetterer comes to Eintracht's rescue once more with a save from Wirtz's well-aimed free-kick.

54'

Frustration building

As Liverpool look to control proceedings in the second half, Frankfurt pick up a couple of bookings through frustration, Dōan and Amenda seeing yellow.

54'

Yellow card

Aurèle Amenda

52'

Yellow card

Ritsu Dōan

50'

Ekitiké slip

The Liverpool forward loses his footing at a crucial moment inside the Eintracht area. The home side breathe a sigh of relief.

48'

More problems for Frankfurt

Another corner causes all sorts of trouble for the home side. Ekitiké gets there first, before Chiesa spurns a glorious chance to make it 4-1.

46'

Away change

Arne Slot brings Chiesa on at the start of the second half, with Isak making way.

46'

Substitution

Chiesa

Isak

46'

Off we go again ...

The second half is underway.

Half-time: Eintracht 1-3 Liverpool

Frankfurt made the perfect start to this league phase game thanks to Rasmus Kristensen's shot into the corner. The away side rallied, however, and after some super saves by Michael Zetterer, turned things around thanks to goals from ex-Eintracht man Hugo Ekitiké, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté. The latter two goals came from corners.

© Alex Grimm

45'

Time added on

We'll have four minutes added on to the first half.

44'

Reds have daylight

It's another goal for Liverpool and, once again, it's come from a corner. Szoboszlai's set-piece is headed home by Konaté.

44'

Konaté

GOAL!

1:3

43'

Koch hurt

Eintracht's captain is down nursing an injury.

39'

Reds lead

This is a simple one for the visitors. A Gakpo corner is headed in from close range by Virgil van Dijk.

39'

Van Dijk

GOAL!

1:2

37'

Another tester

Robertson sends one more super pass into the box towards Wirtz but Theate is there to clear Eintracht lines.

35'

Liverpool are level

A quick-fire counter attack from the visitors and Andy Robertson plays Ekitiké in. The former Frankfurt man makes no mistake and nets his sixth goal of the season in all competitions.

35'

Ekitiké

GOAL!

1:1

32'

What a save!

Unbelievable from Zetterer, who makes a wonderful save to deny Conor Bradley's downward header from Curtis Jones's cross.

28'

Liverpool respond

Gakpo gives Eintracht something to think about with a shot that Amenda blocks.

26'

Frankfurt lead!

Florian Wirtz is outmuscled and here come Eintracht. Kristensen gets into the area and is allowed to take multiple touches before rifling a shot across Mamardashvili and into the corner!

26'

Rasmus Kristensen

GOAL!

1:0

Die Adler waiting

Eintracht attacker Ansgar Knauff has been poised to race away all evening as the home side play a counter-attacking game.

© Christian Kaspar-Bartke

19'

Liverpool swap

Jeremie Frimpong looks to have picked up a second hamstring injury this season and heads off cutting a very upset man. Conor Bradley comes on.

18'

Substitution

Bradley

Frimpong

16'

Frimpong injury

The ex-Leverkusen man goes to ground and this looks like a muscular injury for the Dutchman.

13'

Game slows

After an electric start, both sides are content to stroke the ball about for the time being. The pulsating energy from the stands remains the same, however.

10'

Eintracht with possession

The Eagles have had 60 per cent of the ball thus far, but Liverpool's two big chances outnumber Frankfurt's one. There are surely goals to come in this game.

Super spectacle

It's been end-to-end so far at Deutsche Bank Park.

© KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV

9'

Zetterer saves again

Frankfurt are under pressure here and Zetterer is forced into another save from Isak, who was played in by Gakpo.

8'

Isak miss

Right back up the other end and Szoboszlai feeds Isak through. The Swede's effort is expertly stopped by Michael Zetterer.

7'

Bahoya denied

Jones loses the ball and suddenly Bahoya is in with a fantastic chance. Mamardashvili makes a super save to deny the Eintracht man and the Reds escape.

6'

Frankfurt searching

Konaté does well to block Brown, who was flying. This is a decent start by an Eintracht side who are enjoying some incredible home support here.

3'

Jones alert

Curtis Jones does well to snuff out some danger created by Ansgar Knauff and Rasmus Kristensen.

2'

Eintracht on the attack

The home side almost take advantage of an Andy Robertson slip. Eintracht win a corner, which comes to nothing.

1'

Away we go!

It's game on in Frankfurt.

The stage is set!

We await the appearance of both teams ahead of tonight's encounter in Frankfurt. The stage is set and the atmosphere electric!

© IMAGO/Marc Schueler

Hugo's back

What sort of reception will Hugo Ekitiké receive from the home fans tonight? You'd imagine a warm one, with the French attacker enjoying an incredible spell in Mainhatten, scoring 26 goals and providing 14 assists in 64 matches across all competitions for tonight's hosts prior to joining Liverpool in July.

© IMAGO/Oliver Vogler

Strong bench

The home side have plenty of formidable reinforcements should coach Dino Toppmöller look to change things up during proceedings. Germany international striker Jonathan Burkardt and Turkish teen sensation Can Uzun as well as Farès Chaïbi are all potential game changers and among the subs tonight.

© IMAGO/Frank Hoermann/SVEN SIMON

Wet conditions

The rain has begun to fall on Frankfurt and with the surface at Deutsche Bank Park becoming ever slicker, we look likely to be in for a fast-paced game between two attack-minded sides.

More on that Eintracht team

The hosts make four changes here compared to the side that started the 2-2 draw against Freiburg last weekend, starting in goal where Kauã Santos makes way for Michael Zetterer. Elsewhere, Mario Götze, Jean-Mattéo Bahoya and Ansgar Knauff come in for Farès Chaïbi, Can Uzun, and Jonathan Burkardt (all on the bench).

© IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Gawlik

More on that Liverpool team

Liverpool make five changes to the side that lost to Manchester United in the Premier League last weekend. Former Bayer Leverkusen favourites Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong are in from the start, as is ex-Eintracht star Hugo Ekitiké, Curtis Jones and Andy Robertson. Mohamed Salah drops to the bench for the visitors. Ryan Gravenberch is out with an ankle problem.

© IMAGO/Ryan Browne/Shutterstock

Eintracht starting XI

Zetterer - Amenda, Koch, Theate - Kristensen, Götze, Larsson, Brown, Dōan, Bahoya - Knauff

Eintracht subs

Grahl, Kauã Santos, Chaibi, Burkardt, Skhiri, Wahi, Dahoud, Chandler, Buta, Batshuayi, Collins, Can Uzun

Liverpool starting XI

Mamardashvili - Frimpong, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson - Jones, Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Gakpo - Isak, Ekitiké

Liverpool subs

Woodman, Misciur, Gomez, Endo, Kerkez, Mac Allister, Salah, Bradley, Chiesa, Ngumoha

Höjlund blow

It has been revealed ahead of this encounter that Oscar Höjlund will be missing until further notice following a muscle injury, meaning he is unavailable for selection tonight.

© DFL/Getty Images/Lukas Schulze

1:33

Watch: More from Toppmöller on Liverpool threat

Home comforts

Ahead of this match, Frankfurt have lost just one of their previous seven European matches at Deutsche Bank Park, winning five. Meanwhile, Liverpool have lost two of their past three continental away trips.

© IMAGO/Marc Schueler

2:03

Watch: Freiburg 2-2 Eintracht Frankfurt - previous match

Frankfurt prepared for this encounter with a share of the spoils at Freiburg.

Hard to call

Liverpool have played just one more league game than their opponents, and have lost three of their opening eight fixtures. Frankfurt have lost three of seven Bundesliga games so far, but have also scored five more goals (19) than Liverpool (14) in that time. However, the Eagles have also conceded 18 at the other end, which dwarf's Liverpool's total of 11.

© Daniela Porcelli

The perfect opportunity?

These two sides have not met since the 1972/73 UEFA Cup campaign, when Liverpool went unbeaten against the Eagles over their two meetings. They won the first leg of the first round 2-0, before seeing out a goalless draw in Frankfurt. With those encounters well behind them, could Frankfurt get a first ever win over Liverpool tonight?

No Liverpool pre-match press conference

Liverpool announced on Tuesday that their coach Arne Slot will not attend a pre-match press conference in Frankfurt as planned after his side's flight to Germany experienced delays.

© Jan Kruger

Nathaniel Brown on facing Liverpool

“Playing against the best in the world motivates you. I’m really looking forward to it. It’s no different for me preparing for an opponent like Mo Salah than it is in the Bundesliga. Besides, I know I won’t be alone on the pitch and the boys will help me.”

© Sebastian Widmann/Bundesliga

Dino Toppmöller on facing Liverpool

"The 2-1 defeat against Manchester United felt more like a 4-2 win for Liverpool to me. For whatever reason, they’ve been missing a bit of luck lately. They’ve been the better team in every match and had more chances. We’re going to come up against a world-class team, well aware that it does have an effect when you lose four times in a row. Liverpool are and remain the favourites.”

© Christof Koepsel

Zetterer back in goal

Frankfurt coach Dino Toppmöller has confirmed that he will once again change his goalkeeper, with summer signing Michael Zetterer (r.) returning between the posts after a string of uncertain displays by Kauã Santos (l.). "We get the impression that it's important for Kauã to take a step back again. We'll also have to disappoint other players who obviously want to start games like this. It would be mad for a player to be happy about such news," Toppmöller explained of the decision-making process and its impact.

© IMAGO/Marc Schueler

Liverpool struggling

Frankfurt will have every reason to believe that their visitors are there for the taking. The Premier League holders suffered a 2-1 home defeat to bitter rivals Manchester United at the weekend to take their run of consecutive defeats to four in all competitions.

© IMAGO/Ryan Browne/Shutterstock

Burkardt in fine form

Eintracht can feel confident considering the run of form striker Jonathan Burkardt is currently enjoying. Frankfurt's No.9 grabbed a brace in Die Adler's weekend 2-2 draw away to Freiburg to take his recent tally of goals to seven in his last six appearances.

© IMAGO/Heiko Blatterspiel

12:31

Discover a club - Eintracht Frankfurt

Find out more about Eintracht Frankfurt and their home in Germany's financial capital.

European specialists?

Frankfurt's 2021/22 UEFA Europa League win has a proud part in modern German football history. The Eagles have made it out of the group stages in each of their three European campaigns since.

© Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Edging ahead

The two sides both sit on three points after the opening two league phase matchdays. Eintracht are two positions clear of Liverpool in 15th though as they boast more goals scored, after a 5-1 home win against Galatasaray and 5-1 defeat at Atlético Madrid, whereas Liverpool curiously beat Atlético (3-2 at home) and lost to the Turkish side 1-0 in Istanbul.

© Alex Grimm

10:07

Hugo homecoming

Hugo Ekitiké has a chance to return to the club at which he made his big breakthrough before his summer switch to Anfield. He certainly lit up the Bundesliga during his two seasons in Frankfurt...

Welcome along!

Hello, and thank you for joining us for live build-up and coverage of Eintracht Frankfurt's UEFA Champions League Matchday 3 encounter at home to Liverpool this Wednesday.

About the clubs

Eintracht Frankfurt

Deutsche Bank Park