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.

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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.

(Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

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