RB Leipzig vs Liverpool LIVE: Champions League result and reaction as Darwin Nunez goal secures win
RB Leipzig 0-1 Liverpool: Arne Slot’s men remain unbeaten so far in European after overcoming the German side
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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.
Relive the Champions League action with our live blog below:
Konate and Szoboszlai return to Leipzig
Before both joined Liverpool, Ibrahima Konate made 95 appearances for RB Leipzig between 2017 and 2021, while Dominik Szoboszlai scored 20 goals in 91 matches for the club, winning the German cup in 2021-22 and 2022-23.
A tale of two leagues
RB Leipzig are unbeaten and have 17 points after seven Bundesliga games, a new club record. They have conceded only twice in the league, keeping six clean sheets.
Their only two defeats this season have both come in Europe and the Champions League; away at Atletico Madrid and at home to Juventus.
Dominik Szoboszlai knows the importance of his ‘dirty job’ with Liverpool
Dominik Szoboszlai is working hard to improve his goalscoring return but insisted it was more important that he is doing a “dirty job” for Arne Slot’s Liverpool side.
Last season, Szoboszlai chipped in with eight goals in 55 appearances for the Reds but so far this season his only strike came in the 3-1 Champions League win over AC Milan in September, and that has led to complaints from sections of the Liverpool support and, sometimes, his own manager.
The 23-year-old said he is putting in the hours on the training ground to improve but he is more interested in the team’s results than his own numbers.
Dominik Szoboszlai knows the importance of his ‘dirty job’ with Liverpool
The Reds have made a strong start to the season under Arne Slot but face a testing run of fixtures.
Salah closing in on Gerrard and Carragher
Mohamed Salah should make his 69th European Cup appearance for Liverpool, to move him into third place on the club’s all-time appearance list in the competition, behind Jamie Carragher (91) and Steven Gerrard (87).
A strong start for Slot
If Arne Slot’s side win this game they will become the first team in the club’s history to win each of their opening six away fixtures of a season.
The Reds could record an eighth consecutive victory in all competitions for the first time since March 2022 (a run of 12).
‘Everybody wants to play these games’
“I think everybody as a player wants to play those games,” said Cody Gakpo when asked about the tough fixtures Liverpool have coming up with Leipzig tonight and Arsenal at the weekend.
He told Liverpoolfc.com: “When you are at a big club, as Liverpool [is], you have the opportunity to get these games in the Champions League and in the league. We are all looking forward to it.
“I enjoy it. I think it’s the best feeling to just play games – maybe not so much training but more games.
“I think every player likes to get as much minutes as possible and to play at the highest level, to show yourself again and again. That’s what we all try to do every game.”
Liverpool on the road
Liverpool very much enjoy playing away in the European top-flight and have a strong record when on the road. The Reds have won 14 of their last 19 away Champions League matches, including nine of the last 11.
RB Leipzig vs Liverpool
These two teams were drawn together for the only previous time in the 2020-21 Champions League campaign.
They met in the first knockout round and the Reds won 2-0 in both legs, which were held in Budapest due to Covid-19 restrictions. Will Liverpool emulate that result tonight?
Reds well drilled
Liverpool have been put through their paces ahead of this match. They overcame Chelsea at the weekend and another victory tonight would be a big bonus for Arne Slot’s side.
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