Photo by RONNY HARTMANN/AFP via Getty Images

A look back at the key moments in Liverpool’s impressive win over RB Leipzig in Champions League action.

RB Leipzig 0 - 1 Liverpool FC

Energy Drink: N/A

Reds: Nunez 27’

Pre-Match

Liverpool and RB Leipzig have had completely different experiences with the new Champions League format so far. Whereas the Reds have earned maximum points from their opening two matches, the hosts have come away emptyhanded so far.

Although some Liverpool fans were hoping for more rotation ahead of Sunday’s clash with Arsenal, Arne Slot only makes three changes from the last starting lineup, including Darwin Nunez, who played most of the match vs. Chelsea after the injury to Diogo Jota.

First Half

Liverpool started the match fairly well, but a couple of baffling decisions by the ref, including a yellow for Mac Allister for simulation where he was fouled, and incorrectly awarding a corner to the home side, made for a difficult few minutes. Kelleher then does a bit of madness, and fails to head a ball clear, which thankfully goes unpunished—but only just—as the ensuing shot whistled just wide of the post.

Liverpool take the lead after Darwin crashes the back post for a tap in! Mac Allister found Salah with a cross, and the Egyptian headed it back across the face of goal. The header looked as if it was just about to creep in, but Nunez made sure there was no doubt.

Nunez looked for all the world as if he’d won a penalty, but this ref waved it off and VAR didn’t intervene.

Referee madness aside, Liverpool had a pretty good first half, and deserve to go into the break ahead. More of the same please in the second.

Second Half

Nunez continues being very involved in the match, and in an entirely positive way. He did fantastically well to get first to a loose ball, keep it alive, and squeeze a ball through to a very surprised Cody Gakpo right in front of goal. Sadly, Gakpo couldn’t convert.

Slot makes his first sub of the match, bringing off Mo Salah for Luis Diaz. Mo did not appear particularly pleased. It appears that Lucho will fill in directly for Salah on the right, and Gakpo stays on the left.

Kelleher hasn’t had much to do tonight, but he comes up with a couple of big interventions with about 20 minutes go to. Immediately thereafter Slot responds by bringing Tsimikas, Nunez, and Trent off, bringing on Robbo, Jones, and Gomez.

Liverpool are having to suffer in these closing stages. The guests are now looking dead on their feet, but hopefully there’s enough gas in the tank to get over the line.

Final Thoughts

It wasn’t always pretty, especially in the second half, but the Reds do just enough to leave Leipzig with all three points.