Liverpool booked their place in the Champions League last 16 with a 2-0 win over Red Bull Salzburg in Austria. The result meant that the reigning champions won their group with 13 points.
Liverpool Clean Sheet as Reds Advance To Champions League Last 16
End to End
Thrilling. Exhilarating. Exciting
All three adjectives could be used to describe what was a barnstorming contest between RB Salzburg and Liverpool. The home team, who had to win in order to advance, was on the attack from practically the first minute.
But, the Reds didn’t sit back and absorb the pressure in the cold Austrian temperature. Instead, they launched their own attacks and came closest in the first half with winger Mo Salah missing several good opportunities. The clearest one was when he was fed the ball by Naby Keita and found himself one on one with Salzburg goalkeeper Cican Stankovic. The Egyptian tried to place the ball into the near post area, but his shot was horribly off target. In total, Salah missed four big chances in this match.
The absolute craziness of the first half was summed up by the fact that there were 11 shots after 25 minutes. The only surprise was that it was only 0-0 at half time.
But, the Reds finally got their breakthrough after 57 minutes. Winger Sadio Mane picked the ball up on the wing and easily bypassed an onrushing Stankovic. His cross then found Keita who nodded it into the empty net. The former Salzburg man has now scored in his last two starts.
And in the blink of an eye, it was 2-0. Not even a minute had passed when Salah punished a Salzburg defender’s error, rounded Stankovic and finished from the tightest of angles with his weak foot. The Reds celebrated wildly in the Alps as the Egyptian’s goal pretty much-sealed qualification to the Champions League last 16. Overall, Salah has been involved in 27 Champions League goals since he arrived at Liverpool in 2017- a record only bettered by Lionel Messi in that time.
After that goal, RB Salzburg seemed to lose their will and the game was comfortably seen out by the Reds.
Salah’s goal baffled manager Jurgen Klopp who couldn’t believe that the Egyptian didn’t score more.
“Then Mo [Salah] scored the most difficult situation of the whole night – he scored that goal,” said the German to reporters after the game. “I have no idea [how]. With his quality, how he didn’t score one or two of the others I have no clue.”
Overall, Liverpool were good value for the victory. They had more possession, shots and missed six big chances, while their opponents had none. Once again, Klopp’s “mentality giants” proved their mettle in the toughest of situations.
Another Clean Sheet
For Liverpool, clean sheets seem to be like buses. They take forever to arrive, but when they do, they can’t stop coming.
For the first time this season, the Reds kept consecutive clean sheets. It was also the first time in 11 Champions League away matches that the Reds haven’t conceded a goal.
For his part, defender Virgil Van Dijk was imperious. The Dutchman set his stall out at the very beginning of the match when he made two crucial interventions to stop RB Salzburg. Overall, he had three clearances, four interceptions and made a single tackle. He also won all of his duals and his passing was extremely accurate with half of his long balls being successful.
But, when the Austrians got past Van Dijk, they were halted in their tracks by goalkeeper Allison Becker who was in inspired form. The Brazilian made a remarkable seven saves and was an assured presence throughout the match.
Onwards And Upwards
With Champions League qualification secured, Liverpool can look forward to next Monday’s last 16 draw. No one will want to face the Reds on this type of form and if they continue to play like they did tonight, Klopp’s men could be bound for a third successive Champions League final.
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