Text size

Adds slot courses

A 27th-minute substitution for Darwin Nunez gave Liverpool a controlled 1-0 win at RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Wednesday, continuing their excellent start under new coach Arne Slot.

Just before the half-hour mark, Liverpool broke through Leipzig's initial pressure when Mo Salah hit a perfect header over his body.

Nunez jumped up to poke the ball into the goal, scoring his first Champions League goal since February 2023.

Despite a late upset in Leipzig, just days before Sunday's clash at Arsenal, Liverpool again showed the control and resilience that has taken them to the top of the Premier League table.

“We are very happy about the victory. We played a difficult away game. “We controlled most of the game until 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 and Mo Salah were important with an assist. It was a team goal. It's pleasing to see Darwin actually scored a goal. “Good job today.”

Slot has won 11 of his first 12 games as manager in all competitions, the best start of any manager in Liverpool's history, while Leipzig now have zero games in three in Europe this season.

Both teams had impressed domestically this season due to their strong defensive records, with Liverpool conceding three in eight Premier League games and Leipzig just two in seven.

Slot made three changes to the side that beat Chelsea 2-1 at home on Sunday, bringing in Andy Robertson and Curtis Jones for Kostas Tsimikas and Alexis Mac Allister, while Nunez replaced Jota.

Leipzig coach Marco Rose's starting eleven made his intentions clear and relied on the full attack of Lois Openda, Xavi Simons, Benjamin Sesko and Antonio Nusa.

Rose's constellation worked early on, Leipzig pressed Liverpool hard and hit them on the counterattack.

Sesko went close after 19 minutes, pouncing after Caoimhin Kelleher burst from his penalty area and failed to clear, but the tall Slovenian's long-range shot went just wide of the post.

Openda scored well outside the penalty area in the 26th minute, but the Belgian's dream goal was ruled out for offside.

Liverpool made Leipzig pay immediately when Nunez turned Salah's header home, only his second goal in nine appearances this season.

Nunez was inches away from scoring twice shortly afterwards, but his close-range header was well parried by Peter Gulacsi.

Looking ahead to Sunday's game at Arsenal, Liverpool tried to control the game in the second half, controlling the game and keeping Leipzig at bay.

Salah was upset when he was substituted with half an hour to go, but Slot clearly had Arsenal in mind.

The home team rallied late, with Openda scoring again due to a clear offside call, but Liverpool held on to score their third of three points in the Champions League.

dwi/no