- Liverpool beat RB Leipzig 1-0 on Wednesday night at the Red Bull Arena
- Darwin Nunez's first-half goal was the difference between the two teams
- Reds have claimed maximum points from their opening three European matches
Liverpool maintained their perfect record in the Champions League this season as they beat RB Leipzig 1-0 at the Red Bull Arena on Wednesday evening.
The Reds found themselves ahead at half-time as Darwin Nunez opened his European account for the season and the striker was unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty just before half-time.
Both sides had chances to score after the break but Liverpool's defence held firm to secure a deserved and hard-fought victory in eastern Germany.
How the game unfolded
Leipzig were the brighter side in the opening stages and were first to fire at goal. Amadou Haidara forced Caoimhin Kelleher into an agile save with a powerful drive from outside the area and the Irish goalkeeper's poor clearance almost proved costly as Benjamin Sekso curled a shot inches wide in the 19th minute.
Despite a sloppy start to proceedings, Liverpool snuck into the lead just before the half-hour mark. Kostas Tsimikas' lofted cross found the head of Mohamed Salah, who redirected an effort goalward that provided Nunez with a tap-in at the far post. A much-needed poacher's goal from the out-of-form striker.
Nunez could have doubled his tally just five minutes after opening the scoring but Peter Gulacsi produced an instinctive save to rebuff the Uruguayan's close-range header. The Hungarian made a similar stop to deny Virgil van Dijk from a corner shortly afterwards as Liverpool started to purr.
The visitors should have been awarded a penalty before the break when the increasingly influential Nunez was felled by a late Willi Orban challenge inside the box. However, after a brief VAR review, the referee's on-field decision of no penalty was upheld.
A catalogue of Leipzig errors almost handed Liverpool a two-goal advantage just three minutes after the restart. Nunez latched on to a loose pass and his tame cross managed to reach the feet of Cody Gakpo, but the Dutchman's shot was saved by the outstretched toe of Gulacsi from close range.
Alexis Mac Allister came close to putting clear daylight between the teams but the midfielder's long-range shot clipped the top of the crossbar, with Leipzig almost producing an equaliser moments later. Kelleher produced two fine saves in quick succession, the first denying Sesko from point-blank range and the second preventing Xavi Simons' deflected effort from looping in.
Lois Openda, who had already had a goal ruled out for offside in the first half, was left similarly frustrated as he tapped home what he believed to be an equaliser in the final ten minutes. However, the Belgian was once again a yard ahead of Liverpool's well-placed defensive line.
Gakpo came close to securing the result in the dying minutes but Gulacsi denied the Dutch international with an impressive save. However, it mattered little as the Reds held firm for an important win before Sunday's clash with Arsenal.
RB Leipzig player ratings (4-4-2)
GK: Peter Gulacsi - 7/10 - The former Liverpool-owned goalkeeper made some impressive reaction stops to keep Leipzig in the match.
RB: Lutsharel Geertruida - 5/10 - One of Arne Slot's former Feyenoord boys, Geertruida struggled to handle his compatriot Gakpo out wide.
CB: Willi Orban - 5/10 - A clumsy challenge inside his own penalty area should have been punished and he struggled to handle the pace and relentless energy of Nunez.
CB: Castello Lukeba - 6/10 - Booked early doors but was certainly the more comfortable of Leipzig's central defenders.
LB: Benjamin Henrichs - 6/10 - Offered some attacking threat on the overlap and kept Salah relatively quiet for the most part.
RM: Antonio Nusa - 5/10 - Should have done more to test Liverpool's weakest link in Tsimikas and was wasteful when he got the opportunity to put the ball in the penalty area.
CM: Arthur Vermeeren - 6/10 - The youngster looked composed in possession but Leipzig's midfield was often overrun by a flurry of red shirts.
CM: Amadou Haidara - 6/10 - Leathered a few decent efforts at the Liverpool goal from distance and produced a passable all-round midfield display.
LM: Xavi Simons - 5/10 - Struggled to influence the game in the final third and didn't look entirely comfortable when operating near the touchline. Needed more freedom to drift centrally and unnerve Liverpool's midfield.
ST: Benjamin Sesko - 5/10 - Much like Simons, it was not Sesko's most influential performance. Lived off very little service and couldn't threaten Liverpool's centre-back pairing.
ST: Lois Openda - 5/10 - Produced a stunning finish with the game goalless but his strike was rightfully disallowed for offside. Scored another offside goal late on, much to his frustration.
Substitutes
SUB: Christoph Baumgartner (74' for Sesko) - 6/10
SUB: Kevin Kampl (74' for Vermeeren) - 6/10
SUB: El Chadaille Bitshiabu (74' for Geertruida) - 6/10
SUB: Yussuf Poulsen (77' for SImons) - 6/10
SUB: Eljif Elmas (86' for Haidara) - N/A
Subs not used: Maarten Vandevoordt (GK), Viggo Gebel, Andre Silva.
Manager
Marco Rose - 5/10 - A frustrating evening for his side, who started well but struggled to maintain any sort of dominance or pressure on the Liverpool goal.
Liverpool player ratings (4-2-3-1)
GK: Caoimhin Kelleher - 8/10 - Bar one shaky moment when he came off his line, Kelleher was fantastic once again. Two vital saves kept Liverpool ahead after the break.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold - 6/10 - The passing radar was askew as he finished up with 74% accuracy but he was strong enough defensively to stifle Simons.
CB: Ibrahima Konate - 7/10 - Dealt remarkably well with the pace of Openda and the physicality of Sesko, seldom putting a foot wrong against one of the Bundesliga's most formidable attacking units. One sloppy moment in possession almost proved costly.
CB: Virgil van Dijk - 8/10 - Another imperious display that will strengthen his position in contract negotiations. Leipzig's forwards couldn't get even a crumb from the Dutch skipper.
LB: Kostas Tsimikas - 7/10 - Produced the cross that eventually led to the opening goal and made some testing runs up the left flank. Sound defensively, too.
DM: Ryan Gravenberch - 8/10 - Another eye-catching performance from Gravenberch in the holding midfield role. Snapped into tackles, shielded the back four effectively and made some powerful bursts forward from deep.
DM: Alexis Mac Allister - 7/10 - Harshly booked for diving early in the game and took a powerful shot to the groin just to rub salt in the wounds. Not quite as impressive as Gravenberch but another fine display from the Argentine.
RW: Mohamed Salah - 6/10 - Will have been frustrated by Nunez nicking his goal-bound header and also his early substitution. Rested for the weekend having not had too much joy in the Leipzig half.
AM: Dominik Szoboszlai - 6/10 - Will have been eager to impress upon his return to Leipzig and showed glimpses of his quality. However, he never really threatened to slice open the home defence.
LW: Cody Gakpo - 7/10 - Similar to his performance against Milan in Liverpool's European opener, with the Dutchman a constant thorn in Leipzig's side down the left-hand side.
ST: Darwin Nunez - 8/10 - Barely touched the ball in the opening 25 minutes but burst into life after his goal. Covered a ludicrous amount of ground out of possession and proved a handful for Leipzig's rearguard throughout.
Substitutes
SUB: Luis Diaz (63' for Salah) - 7/10
SUB: Curtis Jones (75' for Nunez) - 6/10
SUB: Joe Gomez (75' for Alexander-Arnold) - 7/10
SUB: Andy Robertson (75' for Tsimikas) - 6/10
Subs not used: Harvey Davies (GK), Vitezslav Jaros (GK), Jarell Quansah, Trey Nyoni, Wataru Endo, Tyler Morton.
Manager
Arne Slot - 7/10 - Another mature display from his side, who have now won all but one match since he has taken charge. Dictated the tempo after a slow beginning and were worthy winners.
