Darwin Nunez scored in the first half and Liverpool kept Arne Slot’s tenure red-hot with a 1-0 win away to RB Leipzig in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.
Slot has 11 wins from 12 in all competitions to start the season, as Nunez finished Mohamed Salah’s header toward the far post early in a controlling if not comfortable win at Red Bull Arena.
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The Reds picked up a big win at home against Chelsea at the weekend to underline what they can achieve this season and Salah looks sharp, his assist in Germany underlining Liverpool’s hopes to win another European Cup.
Leipzig have lost all three of their Champions League games so far, falling 2-1 at Atletico Madrid and 3-2 at home against Juventus. Marco Rose’s men are much better in league play, unbeaten in the Bundesliga’s second place. They only trail leaders Bayern Munich on goal difference.
Leipzig vs Liverpool player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Leipzig vs Liverpool player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Leipzig vs Liverpool player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Liverpool go to Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday, then host Brighton in the League Cup on Wednesday. The Reds’ next Champions League match will be a “What if?” look at Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen come November 5 at Anfield.
Leipzig host Freiburg on Saturday in the Bundesliga, and look to finally get a Champions League win come November 5 at Celtic.
How to watch RB Leipzig vs Liverpool live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 3pm ET Wednesday (October 23)
Venue: Red Bull Arena — Leipzig
How to watch: Stream on Paramount+ and TUDN USA
RB Leipzig vs Liverpool final score: 0-1
Darwin Nunez 27'
RB Leipzig vs Liverpool live updates — By Nick Mendola
Xavi Simons hurt in sleepy half Reds haven’t put away
Xavi Simons needs help to get off the field with a 77th-minute injury in perhaps the most notable moment of the last 25 minutes aside from a sour Mohamed Salah face upon subbing out of the game.
Liverpool have not put this game away and that has to be conjuring many memories of the past few Champions League campaigns when it was Jurgen Klopp, not Arne Slot, in charge of the club.
Gulacsi bails out Leipzig
The hosts dilly-dally near their own six and gift a point-blank chance to Cody Gakpo.
He has to strike quickly and Peter Gulacsi does well to get in the way and keep the deficit 1-0 in the 49th minute.
Halftime — Leipzig 0-1 Liverpool
Marco Rose and Leipzig have to be happy to get to the locker rom down by just one goal.
The visitors have rung up 1.59xG on their seven shots, while Leipzig’s five shots led to just 0.29xG.
Penalty shout
Half-hearted shouts for a penalty from Liverpool, but maybe only half-hearted because they know more chances will come their way.
Early signs were there for Leipzig but it’s all the Reds now. Shots are 6-4 to the visitors.
Darwin Nunez goal — Leipzig 0-1 Liverpool (27th minute)
Kostas Tsimikas works on the left and crosses for the back post.
Mohamed Salah is there and gets a solid contact on a header back across goal.
Darwin Nunez prods it over the line from very close range.
While it initially looked like a poach, replays show it might’ve just missed the post had the Uruguayan not intervened and stabbed it over the line.
1-0.
Was Mo Salah's header goalbound? 🤔
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) October 23, 2024
Darwin Núñez wasn't taking any chances 😅 pic.twitter.com/cWJNQ51abA
Lois Openda offside goal
How did Lois Openda get so open before turning and firing past Kelleher?
He was offside. Pretty easy answer to deprive Red Bull Arena a remarkable opener.
0-0, 27'.
Liverpool save!
Best chance of the game so far and it’s a low-percentage rip from distance.
Amadou Haidara tears into a seeing-eye low-shot through traffic that dips toward the near pos.
Caoiminh Kelleher darts to his left and snares the ball just before it can reach the goal line.
Close. 0-0, 15'.
Both sides up for the affair
Not a surprise given it’s the UEFA Champions League, but we’ve seen good moments for both teams in the first 10 minutes.
Xavi Simons popped a chance over the Liverpool goal in the first moments of the game, and Liverpool have plenty of brightness going forward.
One thing to watch is Reds right back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has twice been caught on the ball by Leipzig.
RB Leipzig lineup
Gulacsi, Geertruida, Castello, Orban, Nusa, Haidara, Vermeeren, Henrichs, Simons, Sesko, Openda
Liverpool lineup
Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Konate, Tsimikas, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Gakpo, Salah, Nunez
RB Leipzig focus, team news
Xaver Schlager, David Raum and Nicolas Seiwald are all out injured for Leipzig, but they have plenty of options in midfield and defense. Antonio Nusa is a fine talent at left wing-back, while Lutsharel Geertruida is at right wing-back in an attack-minded system. Leipzig have to go for it against Liverpool after two defeats to start their Champions League campaign. This will be a special night for former Leipzig duo Ibrahima Konate and Dominik Szoboszlai as Leipzig to Liverpool is a road well travelled by plenty of players.
Liverpool focus, team news
Harvey Elliott, Alisson and Federico Chiesa remain out injured, while Alexis Mac Allister and Luis Diaz could start after being on the bench against Chelsea following their long trips to South America for World Cup qualifiers. Diogo Jota came off injured against Chelsea, so Darwin Nunez is likely to start up front.
RB Leipzig vs Liverpool prediction
This will be an intriguing game as Liverpool will likely look to keep the ball, draw Leipzig out and then hit them on the counter. It will be tighter than most expect but Liverpool will edge it. RB Leipzig 1-2 Liverpool.
