They say that goals change games – but here it was a disallowed one which changed the course of this one.
Darwin Nunez turned in what turned out to be the winner from a Mo Salah header in the first half as Liverpool’s superb start to the season continued with yet another win. That’s 11 in 12 games now for Arne Slot. The successor to Jurgen Klopp continues to impress.
But for almost half an hour here, it looked like RB Leipzig might have a chance in joining Nottingham Forest in being the only side to beat Slot’s Reds so far this season. The Bundesliga side looked up for it and created early chances. They even thought they had the lead when Lois Openda fired in from the edge of the box.
The assistant’s flag went straight up. He was well offside but, instead of inspiring the hosts into thinking they could breach the Reds backline, it went the other way. Liverpool were sparked into life and Leipzig wilted. Slot’s side went through the gears and Marco Rose’s men couldn’t keep up.
Just over a minute after Openda’s joy was abruptly ended by the flag going up, Nunez was the one celebrating. It was Kostas Tsimikas’ cross into Mo Salah in the 27th minute which created the goal. The Egyptian headed for goal and Nunez made sure it went in for his second of the season.
Whether it was going in or not, Nunez showed some predatory instincts to get his name on the scoresheet. He needs the goals to boost his confidence with Diogo Jota injured, Salah has plenty in the bag. This was the 30th time in his last 33 Champions League appearances that the Egyptian has been involved in a goal.
Liverpool began to purr, Nunez forced Peter Gulacsi into a good save from a header before Virgil van Dijk did the same. Cody Gakpo went close before the break after a lovely move saw Dominik Szoboszlai play a cute pass into his path.
Leipzig were wearing white but they might as well have waved a flag of the same colour until they finally woke up again in the second half. The Reds were well on their way to winning their first six away games in a season which is a club first.
They’ve also not won this many in their first 12 at home and away before this. That win for Forest is ageing better by the week. Gakpo could have doubled their lead after the restart when Nunez pounced on a defensive lapse from the hosts but the Dutchman’s finish was poor.
Leipzig lost their opening two fixtures against Atletico Madrid and Juventus. They’ve had a tough draw in this revamped competition with Celtic, Inter Milan and Aston Villa to come before Christmas.
But their form in the Bundesliga where they trail only Bayern Munich on goal difference, suggests this was an impressive win for Slot. Alexis Mac Allister almost scored a lovely goal when he curled a shot from the edge of the area but it clipped the top of the bar.
Benjamin Sesko and Xavi Simons tested Caoimhin Kelleher with 20 minutes to go but the Reds stood firm. Liverpool have now kept seven clean sheets in those 12 games and conceded just five in all competitions as they head to title rivals Arsenal at the weekend.
Openda had another goal ruled out for offside late on but it was his first which changed the course of this game, and a late rally from the hosts failed to produce an equaliser.
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