Bundesliga
Frankfurt downed by Wirtz-inspired Liverpool
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.
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.
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
86'
vs
Chaibi effort
This is better from Frankfurt as Farès Chaïbi almost hits the target as the game ticks down.
83'
vs
Strong support
Despite the home side's travails here, the Eintracht fans have been non-stop on their support for the Eagles.
78'
vs
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'
vs
Ellyes Skhiri
Ansgar Knauff
73'
vs
Gomez
Konaté
73'
vs
Mac Allister
Gakpo
73'
vs
Salah
Ekitiké
70'
vs
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.
64'
vs
Farès Chaïbi
Ritsu Dōan
64'
vs
Can Uzun
Mario Götze
66'
vs
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.
63'
vs
Almost Liverpool again
These are worrying times for Eintracht. Ekitiké misses with a shot before Zetterer makes a super save to deny Bradley.
62'
vs
Szoboszlai's fall
Szoboszlai is brilliantly set up by Wirtz, but the Hungary international slips and the chance is gone.
60'
vs
Double change
Dino Toppmöller makes his move with regular starters Burkardt and Collins coming on.
59'
vs
Jonathan Burkardt
Jean-Mattéo Bahoya
59'
vs
Nnamdi Collins
Rasmus Kristensen
58'
vs
Corner cleared
An excellently delivered corner from Ritsu Dōan is cleared by Liverpool captain van Dijk.
56'
vs
Super save
Zetterer comes to Eintracht's rescue once more with a save from Wirtz's well-aimed free-kick.
54'
vs
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'
vs
Aurèle Amenda
52'
vs
Ritsu Dōan
50'
vs
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'
vs
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'
vs
Away change
Arne Slot brings Chiesa on at the start of the second half, with Isak making way.
46'
vs
Chiesa
Isak
46'
vs
Off we go again ...
The second half is underway.
45'
vs
Time added on
We'll have four minutes added on to the first half.
44'
vs
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.
43'
vs
Koch hurt
Eintracht's captain is down nursing an injury.
39'
vs
Reds lead
This is a simple one for the visitors. A Gakpo corner is headed in from close range by Virgil van Dijk.
37'
vs
Another tester
Robertson sends one more super pass into the box towards Wirtz but Theate is there to clear Eintracht lines.
35'
vs
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.
32'
vs
What a save!
Unbelievable from Zetterer, who makes a wonderful save to deny Conor Bradley's downward header from Curtis Jones's cross.
28'
vs
Liverpool respond
Gakpo gives Eintracht something to think about with a shot that Amenda blocks.
26'
vs
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!
19'
vs
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'
vs
Bradley
Frimpong
16'
vs
Frimpong injury
The ex-Leverkusen man goes to ground and this looks like a muscular injury for the Dutchman.
13'
vs
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'
vs
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.
9'
vs
Zetterer saves again
Frankfurt are under pressure here and Zetterer is forced into another save from Isak, who was played in by Gakpo.
8'
vs
Isak miss
Right back up the other end and Szoboszlai feeds Isak through. The Swede's effort is expertly stopped by Michael Zetterer.
7'
vs
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'
vs
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.