Liverpool managed a great first leg away victory by 2-0 in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 against RB Leipzig. Even though it was played in Hungary but it was the home game of Leipzig and Liverpool got two important away goals.
Mohamed Salah scored the first goal early in the second half and soon after Sadio Mane scored the second and gave Liverpool a comfortable night during a problematic period in the league results.
It wasn’t a vintage Liverpool performance and they gave away a hefty amount of chances but RB Leipzig were not clinical in front of the goal. Leipzig made two huge mistakes which wrote the fate of the game.
RB Leipzig 0-2 Liverpool Team News:
Julian Nagelsmann went with a 3-4-3 formation but without a recognised center-forward. Dani Olmo started as the center-forward. Dayot Upamecano started after his transfer to Bayern Munich was confirmed.
Jurgen Klopp didn’t make many changes from their defeat at the weekend at Leicester City. Only injured James Milner missed out on this encounter and Thiago Alcantara started in midfield and in January signing Ozan Kabak started in his back-to-back game in Liverpool shirt.
RB Leipzig 0-2 Liverpool Post-match Analysis:
It was a pretty frantic start to the game as both teams tried to press each other higher up the field which made the game end to end and good for the spectacle. Leipzig got the first opportunity to open the account from Angeliño’s cross but a diving header from Olmo came off the post. It would have been offside should it went in.
Liverpool had quite a lot of opportunities but Mohamed Salah could not be clinical with his final decision. Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino both had chances but both could not keep the ball on target. Leipzig had yet another chance to score from another Angeliño cross and the similar story that Olmo’s head went over the goal.
In the second half, Nagelsmann’s side had a great opportunity right after the start from a pinpoint through ball but Christopher Nkunku shot excellently saved by Alisson. Liverpool scored two very quick goals from two horrible mistakes from Leipzig. For the first goal, Marcel Sabitzer made an awful pass in midfield which became a great through ball for Salah and Salah made no mistake to score.
Sadio Mane scored the second goal. A looping ball came from a Liverpool clearance Nordi Mukiele completely misjudged the flight and Mane went with the ball and scored a simple goal. Leipzig had another opportunity from a great through ball but substitute Hee-Chan Hwang could not hit it on target.
Notable Performances:
Trent Alexander-Arnold(RB) – (7/10)(Liverpool): He made few great one-touch passes from deep to break Leipzig defence. Alexander-Arnold was excellent in the game with his forward play.
Sadio Mane(LW) – (7/10)(Liverpool): He worked extremely hard in attack and defence. Mane also scored the second goal.
Marcel Sabitzer(CM) – (5/10)(RB Leipzig): Made an extremely bad mistake which is unlikely for him. He did not have a good game.
Leipzig will play next in the Bundesliga away to Hertha Berlin on 21st February and Liverpool’s next match is against city rival Everton in the Premier League on 20th February.
