LEIPZIG, Oct 24 — 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 per cent start in the Champions League continued this morning.
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 club record sixth away win out of six in all competitions to start a season, maintains an excellent start to the Slot reign with the Dutchman winning 11 of his first 12 games since replacing Anfield favourite Juergen Klopp, something no Liverpool manager has achieved.
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).
“We are really happy with the win, a difficult away game against a group one team,” Slot said.
“We controlled the game for large parts except maybe for the last 15 minutes when we needed our centre backs and also our goalkeeper in two big moments.
“If we had left here with a draw I would have felt like we really lost something.” 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, impressing as stand-in to injured first-choice Alisson, made great saves to first deny Benjamin Sesko after a mistake by Ibrahima Konate and then tipping away a deflected effort by Xavi Simons who later hobbled off.
Leipzig knew it was not their night when Openda turned in a low cross late on for what he thought was an equaliser but again his joy was cut short by an offside decision. —Reuters
