Liverpool weathered a late Leipzig storm to secure a 1-0 win on their travels in the Champions League. The Reds are still unbeaten in the European top-flight with three wins from their three matches and join Aston Villa on a maximum nine points.
There were two decisive factors in the game. The first was Darwin Nunez, a striker in desperate need of a goal. He popped up in the first half to get on the end of a headed effort from Mo Salah. Salah’s shot looked to be going in, but Nunez made sure and sent Liverpool ahead just moments after the hosts had had a goal disallowed.
The second factor was Liverpool’s deputy goalkeeper Coaimhin Kelleher. The Irishman had a superb outing making around six solid saves to deny a forward line containing Benjamin Sesko and Xavi Simons and keep a clean sheet under a late surge from the German side.
At time it wasn’t pretty but Liverpool managed the game well and got themselves over the line.
Darwin Nunez’s first-half goal was enough to earn Liverpool fc a 1-0 Champions League win at RB Leipzig as the outstanding start to Arne Slot’s reign continued in Germany.
Against a club that will soon become a concern of former Reds boss Jurgen Klopp, Slot’s men set two new club records – the first Liverpool side to win their first six away games of a season and the first to triumph in 11 of their first 12 matches. Slot himself emulated Bill Shankly by winning his first three European matches as manager.
Nunez, brought into the starting XI in place of the injured Diogo Jota, delivered the winner in the 27th minute, poking home Mohamed Salah’s header, and a seventh clean sheet of the campaign made sure of victory.
Liverpool are just one of two teams to have won all three of their matches in the Champions League so far. The other is Aston Villa who currently sit top of the table due to a better goal difference from the Reds.
Liverpool sit second and Manchester City are third. The English teams are dominating this new phase so far.
Arne Slot has equalled the Liverpool legend Bill Shankly by winning his first three European matches as head coach. Replacing Jurgen Klopp was seen as a monumental task but Slot has taken to it in style.
Liverpool’s victory makes it three wins out of three in the Champions League so far. It’s a wonderful start for Arne Slot who has won 11 out of 12 games.
This is a club record for Liverpool.
They have won their first six away matches this season for the first time in the club’s history.
Liverpool's Darwin Nunez took full advantage of a rare start with the winner in his side's 1-0 victory at RB Leipzig as their 100% start in the Champions League continued on Wednesday.
With Diogo Jota ruled out because of injury, Uruguayan Nunez got his chance and delivered in the 27th minute by poking home Mohamed Salah's header.
Nunez, who has been used predominantly as a substitute this season, also had a clear penalty turned down as he gave manager Arne Slot plenty to think about.
Liverpool's sixth away win out of six in all competitions this season maintain an excellent start to the Slot reign with the Dutchman winning a club record 11 of his first games since replacing Anfield favourite Juergen Klopp.
Liverpool are second in the 36-team Champions League group phase with nine points, sandwiched between Premier League rivals Aston Villa who also have nine and Manchester City (seven).
Leipzig twice had goals disallowed and Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher made two important saves as the Bundesliga club's wait for a first point goes on.
Leipzig looked fired up from the start and were the better side with Lois Openda having a superb effort ruled out for offside moments before Liverpool went ahead.
Salah rose to meet a cross and his header wrong-footed keeper Peter Gulacsi, appearing to be going inside the post before Nunez made absolutely sure with the final touch.
The goal sparked Liverpool into life and Nunez could not believe he was not awarded a penalty when he was clipped in the area by Willi Orban.
Alexis Mac Allister struck the crossbar with a dipping shot for Liverpool after the break but Slot's side were unable to extend their advantage and almost paid the price.
Kelleher made great saves to deny Benjamin Sesko after a mistake by Ibrahima Konate before tipping away a deflected effort by Xavi Simons who later hobbled off.
Arne Slot admits Liverpool are “very fortunate” to have an understudy quite as good as goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
The Republic of Ireland international has made little secret of his desire to establish him as a No.1 and has been thrust back into the first-team following Alisson Becker’s hamstring injury.
Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock spoke on MOTD: UEFA Champions League and claimed that Liverpool’s performance was ‘disjointed’ and they ‘got away’ with a win.
He said: “Along with the defeat by Nottingham Forest, that was the most disjointed Liverpool performance I have seen this season, but they got away with it.
“It will be interesting to see what Arne Slot says in his post-match interviews, because he is usually very honest about how well his team have played.”
90+5 mins: There goes the full-time whistle. Liverpool get the win and the points. It’s three wins from three for Arne Slot in Europe now.
It’s over!
Darwin Nunez’s strike enough to continue Liverpool’s perfect Champions League record.
A solid performance and a good win.
90 mins: There’s five minutes of added time to play yet!
88 mins: Cody Gakpo wins a crucial free kick just inside Leipzig’s half and Liverpool attempt to take their time. They knock the ball back to Virgil van Dijk who belts it long.
The Reds maintain possession which is all they need at the minute.
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