As the ball sailed towards the back of the net, the anxiety in the air dissipated, replaced by jubilation. Liverpool’s perfect start to the Champions League campaign continued with a 1-0 victory over RB Leipzig, courtesy of Darwin Nunez’s clinical finish. The Uruguayan striker tapped in Mohammed Salah’s goalbound effort in the first half, giving the Reds a deserved lead.
Manager Arne Slot beamed with pride as he spoke to the press, his team’s win the most important thing in his book. “We played a difficult away game against a tough opponent,” he said, “and I’m just happy we’re leaving Leipzig with all three points.”
Slot’s side, bolstered by the returns of Virgil van Dijk and Ibou, as well as Caoimhin Kelleher’s outstanding goalkeeping, dominated large portions of the match, despite some late pressure from the hosts. The Dutch coach was keen to praise his players, singling out Nunez, Kelleher, and Cody Gakpo for their individual contributions. “There’s no problem with our players,” he insisted. “We have very good players in every position, even those who are not always in the starting lineup. Today, it was important to see Darwin do a really good job.”
The victory puts the Merseyside club on maximum points in Group A alongside Aston Villa, while AC Milan and Bologna lurk in the shadows. There is no respite for the Reds, however, as they travel to Arsenal on the weekend, buoyed by the Gunners’ lackluster displays against Bournemouth and Shakhtar Donetsk.
Arsene Wenger’s men struggled to raise their game against the Ukrainian outfit on Tuesday, and Slot acknowledged that his team will need to be on top of their game to secure a result at the Emirates Stadium. “Arteta has done an amazing job in the last few years, and we have to be prepared to get a result,” he cautioned.
For now, however, the focus remains on maintaining this winning momentum, and the players involved in this week’s victory will be eager to continue their impressive form against the Premier League heavyweights.
