Liverpool vs RB Leipzig: Player ratings as inspirational Fabinho helps Reds to Champions League last eight
Liverpool 2-0 Leipzig (agg 4-0): Salah and Mane give Reds a much-needed win - just as they did in the first leg
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Liverpool are through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League after a 2-0 win over RB Leipzig, giving the Reds a four-goal aggregate victory.
The Reds led 2-0 from the first leg and could realistically have wrapped up the tie inside the opening half-hour here, with a series of chances being created. Mohamed Salah had the best of them, a one-on-one after Thiago’s outrageous through-pass, but Diogo Jota had a header saved and Trent Alexander-Arnold spurned a big shooting chance, too - while at the other end Alisson had to deny Dani Olmo and Kevin Kampl.
Jota then missed another glorious chance right before half-time, only finding the side-netting from six yards out, with Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann making one sub at the break and two soon after to attempt to change his side’s fortunes.
READ MORE: Champions League knock-out fixtures by date and time
One sub, Alexander Sorloth, nodded an effort onto the crossbar around the hour mark - but Liverpool finally found their shooting boots after that with two fine team moves, Salah finishing one after Jota teed him up and Mane netting the second after a low cross from sub Divock Origi.
Here are the player ratings from the match at the Puskas Arena.
Liverpool
Alisson Becker - 7. A huge early save from Olmo, not often troubled thereafter.
Trent Alexander-Arnold - 7. Could have shot when played in down the right in the first half. Defended well throughout and involved in the second goal.
Nat Phillips - 8. May have set a world record for headed clearances tonight. Caught for pace once or twice but excellent in clearing his lines.
Ozan Kabak - 7. Effective with his clearances too and stood up well to the different attacking approaches from Leipzig.
Andy Robertson - 5. Very wasteful on the ball and often caught yards behind his centre-backs, playing Leipzig forwards onside.
Fabinho - 9. Back into his natural role and utterly dominant. Didn’t miss a tackle or header, with plenty of intelligent passing besides.
Thiago Alcantara - 8. A quite incredible mid-air kick would have been the assist of the year. Excellent distribution all game long.
Gini Wijnaldum - 7. Covered a huge amount of ground, helped the counter-attack and didn’t miss a beat defensively.
Mohamed Salah - 8. Really should have scored his one-on-one chance but eventually buried the crucial opener. Kept running all game long.
Diogo Jota - 7. Caused no end of problems with his pace and picking up loose balls, but spurned two great first-half chances. Set up the first goal.
Sadio Mane - 7. Left frustrated a number of times when free-kicks didn’t go his way but kept making his runs off the ball and got his reward with the second.
Substitutes
Divock Origi - 7. An assist with just about his first touch.
Naby Keita - 7. Involved in the second goal and continued a good recent return.
James Milner - n/a.
Kostas Tsimikas - n/a.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - n/a.
RB Leipzig
Peter Gulacsi - 7. Two important, if actually fairly routine, saves to keep his team in the tie initially.
Nordi Mukiele - 6. Strong enough in the challenge but wasted a few balls in the first half.
Dayot Upamecano - 7. A mixed night of silly passes, missed challenges, dominance in the air and a few surges forward.
Lukas Klostermann - 6. Strong enough to beat Salah one-on-one, but didn’t have the pace to catch him running infield.
Tyler Adams - 7. A decent outlet at times, though not much end product.
Kevin Kampl - 6. Moved the ball well through the lines and tried to support the attack. Subbed at the break.
Marcel Sabitzer - 5. Clumsy in the challenge and loose in the pass first half. Didn’t get much better.
Christopher Nkunku - 7. The regular outlet, but they’d have preferred him further forward rather than at wing-back. Plenty of crosses were searching,
Dani Olmo - 6. Had a good early opening but then mostly snuffed out in the first half. Quiet after the brak and subbed.
Emil Forsberg - 5. Very little involvement in the final third in his hour on the pitch.
Yussuf Poulsen - 6. The usual relentless running, but couldn’t get a sight of goal.
Substitutes
Alexander Sorloth - 6. On at half-time to lead the attack. Hit the bar with a header.
Justin Kluivert - 7. Bright and sharp after coming on down the left.
Hwang Hee-Chan - 6. One effort well off-target.
Amadou Haidara - n/a
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