Liverpool beat RB Leipzig to continue their perfect start in the Champions League.
The only goal of the contest was scored in the first-half by Darwin Nunez, who poked Mohamed Salah’s header into the net.
The Uruguayan forward also should have won a penalty before the break, but somehow, it was not given.
Liverpool are second in the table and have won all three matches in the competition so far.
Meanwhile, the Germans are 32nd and have failed to win so far.
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Story of the Match
The hosts made just one change from the weekend’s victory over Mainz, with Benjamin Henrichs replacing Lukas Klostermann.
Between the sticks was Peter Gulasci who was on the Reds’ books for five years.
Arne Slot made three changes to the team that beat Chelsea on Sunday; Nunez replaced the injured Diogo Jota, Alexis Mac Allister returned to the starting XI at Curtis Jones’ expense, and Andy Robertson was rested with Kostas Tsimikas brought in.
Promising 16-year-old Trey Nyoni was named on the substitutes bench for the contest in Germany.
The Germans had the first chance of the contest after just two minutes when Tsimikas lost the ball deep in his own half but Xavi Simons effort was deflected over the crossbar.
The Paris Saint-Germain loanee caused the Reds trouble again just a few minutes later, crossing to an unmarked Benjamin Sesko but the Slovenian’s header was straight at Caoimhin Kelleher.
The first two bookings of the contest were in the opening 11 minutes, Castello Lukeba penalised for a late challenge on former Leipzig man Dominik Szoboszlai before Mac Allister was booked for simulation despite appearing to be fouled by Lutsharel Geertruida.
The Irishman in Liverpool’s goal was forced into another save when Amadou Haidara caught a long-range effort sweetly from a corner.
He was then nearly embarrassed when he came out to clear a ball that fell to Sesko, who curled it narrowly wide when trying to catch the goalkeeper out as he was scrambling back to his line.
The visitors had their first chance as the 20th minute approached, the ball finding its way to Salah inside the area but his shot was wide of the mark as he tried to curl it inside the near post.
The third yellow card of the match came after 22 minutes, Geertruida booked for a foul on compatriot Cody Gakpo.
Leipzig thought they had taken the lead after 25 minutes, Lois Openda with a wonderful strike on the turn after Simons had played him through, but it was ruled out for offside immediately.
The Reds took the lead just two minutes later, Nunez poking home Salah’s goalbound header at the back post after escaping his marker.
The Uruguayan was close to a second just five minutes after that, he leaped highest to head towards goal but Gulasci was equal to it and saved the ball over the crossbar.
The Merseysiders were beginning to make their mark on the contest and Virgil van Dijk was the next Red to go close, his powerful header from a corner saved by Gulasci.
The Reds were denied what appeared to be a blatant penalty when Orban took out Nunez in the box towards the end of the first-half, the Uruguayan proving a nuisance for the hosts’ defence as the game went on.
Their dominance was beginning to show, and Gakpo should have doubled the lead when Szoboszlai put him through on goal with two minutes of the half to go.
After a tough start, the stats at the break showed just how Slot’s side had asserted themselves on the match, they ended the first-half with 62% of the possession, 1.59 xG to the hosts’ 0.29 and three big chances to Leipzig’s one.
The first chance of the second period fell to Gakpo after relentless work from Nunez to get the ball across the box but the Dutchman’s effort was denied by Gulasci.
As the hour mark approached, Salah found himself with space on the right wing and cut inside, but his shot was wayward.
That was his last contribution as Luis Diaz replaced the Egyptian after 63 minutes.
The Colombian nearly had a goal laid on a plate for him as Gulasci struggled to hold a long range effort from Nunez that was straight at him but he just about managed to keep the ball in his hands.
The pressure from the visitors kept coming, a slick interchange between Mac Allister and Szoboszlai left the Argentina midfielder in space outside the box and he curled an effort onto the crossbar.
Former Leipzig man Ibrahima Konate was caught out when trying to dribble deep in his own half, but Kelleher made a fantastic save to deny Sesko.
The Irishman made another gigantic save from Simons just a minute later as he tipped the dipping effort over the woodwork.
The hosts made three changes as they sought to level the match, Sesko, Geertruida and Arthur Veermeeran replaced by Kevin Kampl, Christoph Baumgartner and El Chadaille Bitshiabu.
The Reds made changes of their own, Nunez, Tsimikas and Trent Alexander-Arnold replaced by Joe Gomez, Andy Robertson and Curtis Jones.
Another change for the Germans was required when Simons was replaced by Youssef Poulsen after sustaining an injury just after the previous round of substitutions.
Leipzig thought they had levelled the match with eight minutes left, but Openda had another goal ruled out after Kelleher saved the initial effort from Henrichs into his path, where he was offside.
The final change for Marco Rose’s side was Elif Elmas replacing Haidara.
As the game pushed towards the final minutes, Gakpo released a thundering effort but Gulasci made a good save to stop it.
In the final stages of extra time, Diaz tested Gulasci, but the Hungarian was equal to it once again.
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Player of the Match
Caoimhin Kelleher
Darwin Nunez was unlucky not to be chosen here, as he was brilliant but Kelleher was the reason that Arne Slot’s side won the match.
It has been said he is the best back-up keeper in the Premier League and right now it is hard to dispute that.
The Irishman made numerous brilliant saves to keep the Reds level then in front after they took the lead.
So far, with him deputising for the injured Alisson, the Reds have not missed the Brazilian anywhere near as much as expected.
