Darwin Nunez’s first-half goal was enough to earn Liverpool a 1-0 Champions League win at RB Leipzig as the outstanding start to Arne Slot’s reign continued in Germany.
Against a club that will soon become a concern of former Reds boss Jurgen Klopp, Slot’s men set two new club records – the first Liverpool side to win their first six away games of a season and the first to triumph in 11 of their first 12 matches.
Nunez, brought into the starting XI in place of the injured Diogo Jota, delivered the winner in the 27th minute, poking home Mohamed Salah’s header, and a seventh clean sheet of the campaign made sure of victory.
The first time we''ve won our opening 6️⃣ games of the season ✊🔴 pic.twitter.com/C4nD8Lh199
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 23, 2024
Top of the Premier League, and with nine points from three Champions League games, Liverpool’s results have been outstanding, but after Slot warned he wanted to see his side do a better job of dominating games there were plenty of sticky patches against a Leipzig team who had two goals disallowed.
Leipzig, who sit level on points with Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich, started as the better side and were on top at the end too, but could not avoid a third straight Champions League defeat.
Bar a dramatic turnaround Klopp could find that the jewel in Red Bull’s footballing crown are facing an early exit from the competition by the time he starts as their head of global soccer in January.
Yet they could have led just minutes into the match. After a lapse from Kostas Tsimikas, starting in place of Andy Robertson, Xavi Simons lifted a shot over.
Trent Alexander-Arnold then gave the ball away, but an unmarked Benjamin Sesko headed straight at Caoimhin Kelleher.
Kelleher stopped a drilled low shot from Amadou Haidara but Liverpool’s stand-in goalkeeper almost got it all wrong moments later, involved in a mix-up with Ibrahima Konate and then grateful to see Sesko bend his shot wide as he scrambled back.
Lois Openda was clearly offside when he fired home in the 26th minute, but the disallowed goal seemed to finally wake Liverpool up.
A minute later, the visitors were ahead. Tsimikas chipped in a cross from the left and Salah headed goalwards before Nunez stole in to prod it over the line.
Momentum shifted immediately. Nunez was denied a second by Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi, the Hungarian who sat on Liverpool’s bench 51 times early in his career without ever making an appearance.
Nunez wanted a penalty in the 38th minute after being tripped by Leipzig skipper Willi Orban. Replays showed contact but Swiss referee Sandro Scharer was not convinced and VAR somehow did not intervene.
3/3 in the @ChampionsLeague ✨🔴 pic.twitter.com/a4oHhrwxiT
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 23, 2024
Cody Gakpo shot into the side-netting at the end of the half and had an even better chance four minutes after the break, somehow denied by Gulacsi after Lutsharel Geertruida – Slot’s former captain at Feyenoord – and Arthur Vermeeren got in each other’s way dealing with a Nunez cross.
Just before the hour Salah cut in from the right hand side but bent his shot over. A few minutes later, the Egyptian was unhappy to be substituted – no doubt with Sunday’s trip to Arsenal in mind – as Luis Diaz came on.
Alexis Mac Allister then saw a bending shot bounce off the crossbar as Liverpool continued to spurn chances to kill the game off, and it almost proved costly.
First Kelleher did well to save from Sesko after Konate lost the ball. Moments later, the Irishman tipped over a dipping shot from Simons.
Leipzig had the ball in the net again seven minutes from time, but Openda was offside as he bundled in the rebound after Kelleher got a hand to Benjamin Henrichs’ cross, and Liverpool hung on.
[(Shimizu S-Pulse) Weakness]: 1. Shimizu S-Pulse are 13th in the J1 League table. Facing 2nd-placed Kashima Antlers, they will find it hard to win this match due to their declining form, indicating doubtful motivation.2. Shimizu S-Pulse defender Yuji Takahashi and forward Sena Saito will miss this league game due to injuries.3. Shimizu S-Pulse were winless with 2 draws and 3 losses in the last 5 g...
Liverpool table fresh Guehi bidAccording to The Athletic, Liverpool have submitted a fresh bid worth £35 million ($47m) to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace. The Reds had earlier seen two bids rejected by the Eagles, but they remain hopeful that this time the offer will be accepted.Fenerbahce eyeing move for EdersonTurkish Super Lig giants Fenerbahce are eyeing a move for out-of-favour Manc...
Roma medical for Liverpool fullback TsimikasAS Roma are holding a medical for Kostas Tsimikas today.The Liverpool fullback is leaving Anfield after finding himself third-choice this season behind fellow left-backs Andrew Robertson and Milos Kerkez.La Gazzetta dello Sport says the Greece international is expected in Italy today to finalise his move.Tsimikas will undergo a medical ahead of signing a...
FBL-ENG-PR-CHELSEA-FULHAMMarco Silva has demanded an explanation from the Premier League after lambasting three "shocking" refereeing decisions in Fulham's 2-0 Premier League loss at Chelsea.WHAT HAPPENED?The Whites thought they had taken the lead against their west London rivals Chelsea when 18-year-old Josh King coolly slotted past Robert Sanchez. However, the goal was chalked off by referee Rob...
[(Shonan Bellmare) Strength]: 1. Shonan Bellmare are one of the bottom teams in the table, taking 25 points and being in the relegation zone. They are strongly motivated to grab points.[(Shonan Bellmare) Neutral]: 1. Shonan Bellmare drew the last 4 home games, revealing mediocre home performances.[(Shonan Bellmare) Weakness]: 1. Shonan Bellmare lost 1-0 to Fagiano Okayama on the road in the last g...
Manchester United Training Session And Press Conference - UEFA Europa League Final 2025Chelsea have completed the signing of Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United.WHAT HAPPENED?Garnacho has signed a seven-year contract with the Blues after the two Premier League clubs agreed a deal worth a fixed £40 million fee ($54m) with a 10 per cent sell-on clause, Goal understands. The 21-year-old ha...
Marc Guehi Crystal Palace 2025-26Liverpool have launched a fresh bid for Marc Guehi as they hope that Crystal Palace will finally accept their proposal and agree to sell their star defender before the summer transfer window closes on Monday. The Reds have been linked with a move for the England international throughout the summer and the champions are determined to secure his signature.WHAT HAPPEN...
West Ham United v Lille OSC - Pre-Season FriendlyAston Villa are close to signing West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta on an initial loan with an obligation to buy next summer.WHAT HAPPENED?Villa are on the brink of agreeing a £47 million (€54m/$63m) package for Paqueta which includes a loan fee and add-ons, according to Fabrizio Romano. The report also states the 28-year-old has ac...
[(Nagoya Grampus) Strength]: 1. Nagoya Grampus currently have only 28 points and are near the bottom of the league table. To avoid relegation, they need to earn points.[(Nagoya Grampus) Neutral]: 1. Nagoya Grampus' 7 successive games ended with OVER.[(Nagoya Grampus) Weakness]: 1. Nagoya Grampus lost 2-4 to Sanfrecce Hiroshima in their last Emperor's Cup game, with poor performance.2. In the lates...
Cody Gakpo Liverpool 2025Premier League champions Liverpool have confirmed that star attacker Cody Gakpo has put pen to paper on a new long-term contract, which has extended his stay at Anfield beyond 2028. The Dutchman who joined the club in January 2023, during the Jurgen Klopp era, has established himself as a regular starter under new boss Arne Slot and has now committed his future to the Reds...
