[HIGHLIGHT/REPORT] Liverpool Extends Perfect Champions League Run with Narrow Win Over RB Leipzig, Nunez Shines Again...
- Darwin Nunez's decisive goal in the 27th minute not only secured the victory for Liverpool but also highlighted his importance to the team, especially in the absence of injured players.
- New manager Arne Slot has continued to build on Liverpool's momentum, achieving 11 wins in his first 12 matches and setting new club records for away victories and overall wins at the start of the season.
- Despite dominating the match, Liverpool faced significant late pressure from RB Leipzig, with goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher making crucial saves to maintain the clean sheet, underscoring the team's need for defensive stability as they approach critical matches ahead.
Liverpool secured a narrow 1-0 victory against RB Leipzig in the Champions League, maintaining their perfect record with three wins from three matches. Darwin Nunez emerged as the match-winner, netting the decisive goal in the 27th minute, capitalising on a close-range opportunity after Mohamed Salah's header.
Under the guidance of new manager Arne Slot, who has now won 11 of his 12 matches since taking over from Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool set two new club records: they became the first Liverpool side to win their first six away games of a season and the first to win 11 of their first 12 matches across all competitions. This win is a crucial confidence booster ahead of their Premier League clash with Arsenal on Sunday.
Despite dominating possession and creating 2.38 expected goals, Liverpool struggled to find a second goal, with RB Leipzig’s goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi making several outstanding saves. Alexis Mac Allister also came close, striking the crossbar. Nunez appealed for a penalty in the 38th minute after being tripped by Leipzig captain Willi Orban, but the Swiss referee Sandro Scharer deemed it insufficient for a spot-kick, and VAR did not intervene.
As the match drew to a tense conclusion, Liverpool had to fend off late pressure from Leipzig. Lois Openda thought he had equalized, but his goal was ruled out for a narrow offside. Goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher also made significant contributions, saving a shot from Benjamin Sesko and tipping over a dipping effort from Xavi Simons, showcasing his ability as Alisson's backup.
With this win, Liverpool sits atop their Champions League group with nine points, needing just one more from their remaining five matches to secure a spot in the knockout stage. However, Slot's side is aiming higher, with a target of 15 points to ensure direct entry into the last 16.
Reflecting on the match, Slot stated to TNT Sports: "We are really happy with the win. We knew it was a difficult away game, but what pleased me most was that we controlled large parts of it, except for the last 15 to 20 minutes, when we definitely needed our two centre-backs to keep a clean sheet, and also our goalkeeper in two big moments. That was, in my opinion, unnecessary. If we had left this place with a draw, I would have really felt we had lost something. For the 70 previous minutes—except, maybe, for the first 10—we dominated."
[HIGHLIGHT]
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