Jurgen Klopp’s side clinched top spot in Group E thanks to Gakpo’s brace and goals from Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah at Anfield.
Cody Gakpo’s double took Liverpool into the Europa League last 16 as they beat LASK 4-0, while Brighton advanced to the last 16 with a 1-0 win at AEK Athens on Thursday.
Jurgen Klopp’s side clinched top spot in Group E thanks to Gakpo’s brace and goals from Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah at Anfield.
Second-placed Toulouse’s 0-0 draw against Union Saint-Gilloise in the other group match allows Klopp to rest his players for his team’s final group match.
The Europa League group winners automatically qualify for the round of 16, while the runners-up will play in a knockout play-off in February against a team that finishes third in a Champions League group.
“The most important thing is that we are top of the group and that won’t change, so that’s good,” Klopp said.
“There was some good football but this game should have been over before half-time. We didn’t, but it’s fantastic to win 4-0.”
Klopp made nine changes from the side that drew against Premier League champions Manchester City last Saturday, with Salah and Kostas Tsimikas the only players to retain their places.
Rising to meet Joe Gomez’s cross, Diaz scored his first goal at Anfield since August as his header flew past LASK goalkeeper Tobias Lawal in the 12th minute.
After opening the scoring, Diaz helped create Liverpool’s second goal three minutes later when he spotted Salah, who pushed Gakpo to score from close range.
Salah killed off the outclassed Austrians in the 51st minute, scoring a penalty for his 13th goal this season after Gakpo was fouled by Lawal.
Dutch striker Gakpo capped the demolition with a fierce strike in stoppage time.
Unlike Liverpool’s rich history in continental competition, Brighton are competing in Europe for the first time and the Seagulls’ adventure will continue into the new year thanks to Joao Pedro’s winner in Greece.
Damian Szymanski fouled Joao Pedro in the 55th minute and the Brazilian striker rose to score the penalty.
AEK’s fate was sealed when they were reduced to 10 men in the 85th minute when Mijat Gacinovic earned a second booking for a foul on Joel Veltman.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side are second in Group B, one point behind Marseille after the French side’s spectacular 4-3 win over 10-man Ajax.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored a hat-trick for Marseille, including the winner from the penalty spot three minutes into extra time.
In the midst of a miserable season, Ajax had Steven Berghuis sent off in the 63rd minute and were doomed to elimination by their late defeat.
“Who knows how far we can go?” » said Brighton captain Lewis Dunk. “We want to win it and you have to dream big to achieve it.”
West Ham advanced to the last 16 after Tomas Soucek’s 89th-minute goal beat Backa Topola 1-0 in Serbia.
Second-placed Freiburg beat Olympiakos 5-0 to join Group A leaders West Ham in the round of 16.
There is a three-way battle for qualification from Group C after third-placed Sparta Prague beat leaders Real Betis 1-0, while second-placed Rangers drew 1-1 with Aris Limassol.
Atalanta clinched top spot in Group D after a 1-1 draw against second-placed Sporting Lisbon, who also qualified for the round of 16.
Rennes’ 3-0 win over Maccabi Haifa took the French team to the top of Group F and into the round of 16, with Villarreal joining them after their 3-2 win over Panathinaikos.
Slavia Prague’s 3-2 victory at Sheriff sealed their place in the last 16 of Group G and Roma also qualified with a 1-1 draw at Servette.
Bayer Leverkusen advance to the round of 16 as Group H winners after beating Hacken 2-0.
In the Europa Conference League, crowd disturbances marred Aston Villa’s 2-1 win over Legia Warsaw, with three police officers injured during clashes with Polish fans.
The match took place with Legia fans kept away from the stadium following pre-match violence, which included flares and missiles being thrown at police.
