Liverpool kept their perfect record in the UEFA Champions League this season with a narrow 1-0 win away to RB Leipzig at the Red Bull Arena and stretched their run of victories in nine UCL matches against Bundesliga outfits to eight.
Leipzig was brighter of the two teams during the opening exchanges as Benjamin Šeško twice tested Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who also made a crucial save from Amadou Haidara’s powerful strike. The hosts thought they had taken the lead through Loïs Openda’s improvised finish, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
A minute later, the game was broken by Liverpool. Mohamed Salah’s header was turned behind the back of the net by Darwin Núñez to send the Reds in front and extend their run of scoring in successive away UCL games to 16. Arne Slot’s men almost doubled the lead before the break but Péter Gulácsi made sharp saves from Núñez and Virgil van Dijk.
In the second half, Gulácsi continued to keep Leipzig in the contest, thwarting Cody Gakpo and Núñez. Liverpool almost increased the score when Alexis Mac Allister’s effort hit the bar. But Kelleher remained solid at the goal, making two crucial saves in the dying moments to refuse Šeško and Xavi Simons.
Openda thought he had a late equalizer, but once again the offside flag ended Leipzig’s hopes. With the win, Liverpool moved level on points with Aston Villa atop the UCL group, while Leipzig’s third straight defeat leaves their progression hopes hanging by a thread.
