Liverpool seal Champions League return after beating Hoffenheim

Liverpool are back in the Champions League after turning on the style to power past Hoffenheim in their play-off.

The five-time European champions will be one of five English teams in the draw for the group stage after sweeping the Germans aside 6-3 on aggregate with a convincing 4-2 win at Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp's men did the damage in the first 20 minutes, scoring three times in a blistering 11-minute spell with the stadium at its atmospheric best.

Germany international Emre Can scored two of those goals with Mohamed Salah also on target. Mark Uth pulled one back for the Bundesliga side but the outstanding Roberto Firmino put the tie beyond any doubt before a Sandro Wagner consolation.

"We were so dominant in the first part - so good, so dangerous, so clinical," said Klopp. "We could have scored even more. The atmosphere was outstanding. It was too loud for me to get in contact with the boys!"

Liverpool last played in the group stage in the 2014-15 season, a year before Klopp took charge.

Klopp, who previously took Borussia Dortmund to the final, felt his players had been rewarded for more than a year's hard work having earned their chance by finishing fourth in the Premier League last season.

Asked what the achievement meant to him, Klopp said: "Yippee! Everything. For the club, for the team, (it is) everything we have worked for in the last 14 months.

"You will always get some people who say, 'It is only Champions League', but we feel we wanted to be part of it with all we have."

Captain Jordan Henderson felt the Reds deserved their place in the group stages and is looking forward to the competition.

Henderson told BT Sport: "It was a brilliant night. We set the tempo and scored some good goals early on.

"We still can improve on the goals we conceded but overall we're delighted to be back in the Champions League, where Liverpool belong.

"We need to make sure we do ourselves justice. They are big nights for everyone and I'm delighted for the fans and the lads."