Darwin Nunez earns Liverpool narrow Champions League win at Leipzig
Sign up now: Get the biggest sports news in your inbox
Liverpool's Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez scoring the only goal of the match.
PHOTO: AFP
LEIPZIG, Germany - 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 on Oct 23.
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 sixth away win out of six in all competitions this season maintain an excellent start to the Slot reign with the Dutchman winning a club record 11 of his first games since replacing Anfield favourite Juergen Klopp.
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).
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.
“We’re really happy for the win. We played a difficult away game. We controlled the game in large parts apart from the last few minutes,” said Slot.
“I asked for a goal. He (Darwin) gave us one but in the lead-up to the goal, Cody Gakpo was important and Mo Salah with an assist. It was a team goal. It’s pleasing to see that Darwin did a really good job today.”
Slot has won 11 of his first 12 games in charge in all competitions, the best start of any manager in Liverpool history, while Leipzig are now zero from three in Europe this season.
“With a bit of luck, maybe we could have taken a point,” said Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi, a former Liverpool player. “In the Champions League, we’ve had no luck at all.”
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 made great saves to deny Benjamin Sesko after a mistake by Ibrahima Konate before tipping away a deflected effort by Xavi Simons who later hobbled off. REUTERS
