Liverpool 2-0 RB Leipzig (agg: 4-0): Champions League – as it happened
10-Mar-2021 22:29:24 | The Guardian
Mo Salah and Sadio Mane got the goals as Liverpool booked their passage to the last eight with a minimum of fuss
Read Andy Hunter’s match report
Jonathan Liew.
Related: Fabinho back in his rightful midfield role and all is well for Liverpool | Jonathan Liew
Salah.
Related: 'Leave the pressure off the field': Salah insists Liverpool must keep fighting
Champions League: Liverpool kept a long overdue clean sheet and scored two goals as they advanced to the quarter-finals with a minimum of fuss, writes Andy Hunter.
Related: Liverpool cruise into quarters as Sadio Mané and Salah cut down Leipzig again
“Good! It was good! We created a lot of chances – [laughs] that’s us at the moment – first half massive chances and couldn’t score,” he tells Des. “Again, the biggest and best thing the boys did is let nobody see how good Leipzig can be. They are a monster usually, they are so powerful and you saw all the runs in behind, but we defended that really well. Big compliment to the boys.”
On his outstanding players. “We were, yes. We had to switch off that PRemier League stuff, to get here and to give it a proper try. The boys really enjoyed themselves tonight, which is important. We were doing the hardest and the dirtiest work because it was a big defending challenge.”
“It’s a big result for us,” he tells Des Kelly on BT Sport. “We came here having lost a couple ... well, a few games in the Premier League and were not in the best shape but we want to fight in the Champions League. We also want to fight in each game in the Premier League and we’ll see what will happen.”
On RB Leipzig: “They’re a good team, they play football and make us run around a lot. We tried to play our way, to press and high and get the balland counter-attack. We did well. We won the game and that’s a positive thing. Hopefully we will continue with that in the Premier League as well.”
Elsewhere in the Champions League: It’s finished all square in the game between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona, after Leo Messi cancelled out out Kylian Mbappe’s penalty with an absolute screamer. Mbappe had the last laugh, however, as PSG go through to the last eight 5-2 on aggregate.
Peep! Peep! Peeeeeep! It’s all over at the Puskas Arena, where Liverpool have eased through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Mo Salah and Sadio Mane got the second-half goals that put the tie beyond Leipzig, in a match Liverpool should have won by a lot more. There are plenty of positives for Jurgen Klopp to dwell on after a tough time. Chief among them, the seeds of a potentially decent partnership between Nat Phillips and Ozan Kabak in central defence were sowed tonight.
90+1 min: We’re in the first of two minutes of added time and Liverpool have secured their passage to the quarter-finals against an RB Leipzig side that have been bang average over both legs of this tie.
Julian Nagelsmann may well be the second coming of Jurgen Klopp but I haven’t seen much evidence of his mangerial genius in the admittedly limited number of Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig games I’ve seen him oversee.
90 min: Klostermann clears a Liverpool corner with his head and the ball drops for Tsimikas. With his first touch of the evening he fires high over the bar from distance.
89 min: Liverpool double-substitution: Kostas Tsimikas and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on for Sadio Mane and Andrew Robertson.
84 min: James Milner, who will miss Liverpool’s next game should he pick up a yellow card during his brief cameo tonight, is lucky to avoid doing exactly that for a needlessly robust challenge on Haidara.
82 min: Running down the inside-right, Divock Origi picks up a bass from Keita, cuts inside, gets the ball on to his right foot and fires into the side-netting.
82 min: Liverpool substitution: James Milner on for Gini Wijnaldum, who hands over the captain’s armband before getting a big hug from his manager.
81 min: Alexander Sorloth is played in by a pass from deep, only to be dispossessed by an excellenbt tackle by Nat Phillips.
78 min: Some admin: Origi and Keita replaced Diogo Jota and Thiago. For RB Leipzig, Amadou Haidara is on for Dani Olmo.
75 min: Liverpool made some substitutions in the immediate aftermath of their opener and two of the replacements, Divock Origi and Naby Keita played a part in the build-up to Liverpool’s well-worked second goal. After intricate play down the right flank, Origi crossed into the corridor of uncertainty, where Sadio Mane stabbed the ball home with the sole of his foot from five or six yards.
Sadio Mane scores! Liverpool score their second goal in four minutes to put the tie beyond RB Leipzig.
72 min: Liverpool’s front three combined to devastating effect to finally break tonight’s deadlock. It was one of the more difficult chances Salah has had tonight ... oh, hold on!
Liverpool lead on the night! Mo Salah scores with a low left-footed drive into the bottom right-hand corner to end a lightning fast counter-attacking move.
65 min: Kluivert drives forward, plays the ball to Upamecano, who in turn plays it wide to Hwang. His cross is directed on to the cross-bar by Alexander Sorloth, whose powerful header had Alissomn beaten. Close, but no cigar for Leipzig.
64 min: A free-kick for Liverpool deep inside their own half following a Sabitzer handball.
64 min: Kluivert shoots high and wide from distance under pressure from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
61 min: The two substitutes make an immediate impact and it takes a good block from Nat Phillips, who has been outstanding tonight, to snuff out the danger. Ah, cool your jets - there was an offside in the build-up before the youngster cut out Hwang’s cross.
59 min: RB Leipzig double-substitution: Justin Kluivert and Hwang Hee-chan on for Emil Forsberg and Yussuf Poulsen.
57 min: RB Leipzig keep plugging away to no great effect but remain in this tie as long as Liverpool keep missing chances. For all their Champions League pedigree and experience, a goal for the German side would almost certainly prompt jitters among the Liverpool ranks.
55 min: Jota is played in behind by Sadio Mane but shoots straight at Gulasci, then Salah fires the follow-up over the bar. Another dreadful pair of misses but blushes are spared as Jota was offside.
54 min: Diogo Jota is released into space down the left wing and a flood of Liverpool players surge forward in support. Jota somehow manages to pick out none of them and gives the ball away cheaply.
51 min: Upamecano turns on his afterburners to get across and welly two quick bvall ins succession played into space down the right flank for Mo Salah out for throw-ins. Leipzig need two goals but they remain very much on the back foot.
49 min: Mane tries to play the ball across the face of the Leipzig penalty area towards Salah, but it’s intercepted and cleared.
47 min: Diogo Jota beats Nordi Mukiele for pace down the left touchline and runs the ball to the byline. Tyler Adams gets back to retrieve him of possession. I’m not sure what the Mukiele role is, but getting beaten for speed probably isn’t it.
46 min: Liverpool get the second half started and RB Leipzig have made a change in personnel. The defensive midfielder Kevin Kampl has been replaced by Alexander Sorloth, who joins Youssef Poulsen up front. RB Leipzig have also switched to a back four.
Elsewhere in Europe: Lionel Messi has cancelled out Kylian Mbappe’s opener in the match between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona. The French side lead the tie 5-2 on aggregate and Paul Doyle has the latest.
Related: PSG v Barcelona: Champions League – live!
Peep! Apologies for the break in service, which were down to wifi issues. A flurry of hotspot tethering and one Diogo Jota shot into the side-netting when scoring looked easier latewr and we’re back in business. It’s half-time at the Puskas Arena and Liverpool are firmly in control of a tie they should really have put well beyond RB Leipzig.
43 min: A quickly taken free-kick from Sabitzer out to Nkunku out on the left wing, leads to the left wing-back cutting inside and shooting high over the bar.
41 min: Rampaging forward, Diogo Jota gets the better of Nordi Mukiele. Bearing down on goal with Upamecano and Klostermann closing in, he toe-pokes the ball with considerable venom straight at Gulasci, who beats it away.
39 min: Christopher Nkunku is caught offside as Leipzig attempt to get in behind Liverpool’s defence again with a long ball from Upamecano.
37 min: Liverpool remain two away goals without reply ahead on aggregate with the deadlock yet to be broken tonight. There have been chances galore, mind ... most of them falling to Jurgen Klopp’s side.
34 min: On the right flank, Trent Alexander-Arnold curls a cross towards Sadio Mane who is practically standing under the Leipzig cross-bar. It’s a terrific delivery, but Gulacsi claims the ball confidently.
33 min: Another chance for Leipzig, as Forsberg pulls a low drive wide of Alisson’s right upright.
32 min: Kevin Kampl tries a shot from just outside the penalty area, attempting to curl the ball into the top right-hand corner. His effort is on target, but Alisson saves comfortably.
29 min: Another great chance goes to waste for Liverpool. Trent Alexander-Arnold makes a diagonal run towards the near post with the ball at his feet and instead of shooting, tries to tee up Salah on his inside. Perhaps caught by surprise, the Egyptian turns his shot from four or five yards out over the bar.
27 min: Leipzig corner. Nkunku sends the ball sailing towards Poulsen at the near post and he heads high over the bar.
22 min: Free-kick for Leipzig, about 40 yards from the Liverpool goal, left of centre. Nkunku’s delivery towards the far post is headed clear by Nat Phillips. Liverpool proceed to break down the pitch, with Salah chasing a huge hoofed clearance from Thiago.
Through on goal, he looks certain to score, but fires straight at Gulasci. The ball breaks to Sadio Mane, who is up in support, but he can only head it straight into the ground. Salah tries to hook it goalwards but referee Clement Turpin blows for some infringement or other. I’m really not sure how Liverpool failed to score there.
20 min: Liverpool continue to look comfortable, while Leipzig continue to look threatening, not least on the counter-attack. At the risk of stating the blindingly obvious, the first goal tonight will be absolutely crucial.
19 min: Liverpool win a corner and Trent Alexander-Arnold sends the ball into the mixer. Diogo Jota rises highest and looks to have scored with a bullet header, only for Leipzig goalkeeper Gulasci to deny him with a terrific reaction save.
18 min: Fabinho is looking a very reassuring presence in front of Liverpool’s inexperienced duo of central defenders in these early stages.
14 min: A handball from Emil Forsberg gives Liverpool a free-kick about 35 yards from the Leipzig goal, a bit left of centre. Trent Alexander-Arnold chips the ball towards the far post, where goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi punches clear, clattering into Sadio Mane as he does so. The Senegalese takes a breather on the flat of his back, then eventually gets to his feet looking a little dazed. After a brief consultation with the Liverpool medics, he looks fit to continue.
12 min: Andy Robertson tries to cross the ball into the Leipzig box but has is effort blocked by Tyler Adams. Robertson goes on to foul the American in the ensuing and unseemly scramble for the loose ball.
10 min: RB Leipzig carve Liverpool open down the left-hand side, with Christopher Nkunk on the ball and rampaging forward. With white shirts flooding into the Liverpool box, he plays the ball into Youssef Poulsen, who runs out of room but manages to tee up Dani Olmo. Alisson makes himself big and saves well at close quarters.
8 min: Ay RB nLeipzig fans tuning into this game will be suffering heart palpitations each and every time their team tries to play the ball out from the back. They look really unconvincing under Liverpool’s high press.
7 min: Dayot Upamecano is penalised for a foul on Sadio Mane, halfway inside the Liverpool half.
7 min: Sadio Mane squanders a decent opportunity for Liverpool but it wouldn’t have counted if he’d scored. He too was offside.
6 min: With Liverpool’s defensive line on the halfway line, Leipzig try to play Emil Forsberg in behind with a ball from deep. Offside.
5 min: Just five minutes in and Liverpool have already showed more attacking intent than they did in 90 against Fulham on Sunday. RB Leipzig, by contrast, are looking nervy and chasing shadows.
3 min: After good work from Gini Wijnaldum and Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara is played in through a giant gap in the Leipzig defence and is bearing down on goal. Instead of shooting, he elects to pass the ball right to Mo Salah, who is up in support. The pass is intercepted.
2 min: Jota tries to chase down a wayward pass to Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulasci from one of his defenders, but the goalkeeper beats him to it and puts it out for a throw-in.
1 min: Referee Clement Turpin blows his wihstle and RB Leipzig get the ball rolling, their players wearing white shirts, shorts and socks with red trim. Liverpool’s wear all red.
Not long now: Liverpool are first out on to the Puskas Arena sward, closely followed by their German opponents. Kick-off is just a few minutes, a rendition of the Champions League anthem and a coin-toss away.
Premier League: It’s finished Manchester City 5-2 Southampton at the Etihad Stadium in tonight’s top flight set-to.
Jurgen Klopp speaks. After a comical attempt to remain coy, Liverpool’s manager tells BT Sport that yes, Fabinho will be starting in midfield for Liverpool tonight, much as we had expected.
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Phillips, Kabak, Robertson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Thiago, Mane, Salah, Jota.
Subs: Adrian, Harvey Davies, Milner, Keita, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jones, Tsimikas, Shaqiri, Origi, Ben Davies, Rhys Williams, Neco Williams.
Your #RBLeipzig starting XI to take on @LFC!
⚪ #RBLeipzig #LFCRBL pic.twitter.com/4a5p3vn2yy
Liverpool team news: Jurgen Klopp makes five changes to the team that lost against Fulham at Anfield on Sunday, with Ozan Kabak, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Thiago Alcântara and Sadio Mané all back in the side.
Tonight's team news
5️⃣ changes from our last outing as TAA, Kabak, Fabinho, Thiago and Mane included in the starting XI. #LFC | #UCL
Related: ‘We feel really bad’: Liverpool lean on Champions League to rescue season
“We had some great games in last season’s Champions League and gained some confidence,” said RB Leipzig’s manager. “Tomorrow, we need the necessary mix of attacking desire and a solid defence. In addition, the necessary humility and cleverness – we will need it all to reach the next round.”
“I am happy to have this opportunity on Wednesday,” said Liverpool’s manager during his pre-match press conference. “We’ve had good moments in this season: Spurs, West Ham recently. Consistency is the issue. We have momentum in the Champions League. Leipzig have a different momentum as they won the last four, but previous results don’t impact on the game.”
Our referee and his team of fellow officials hail from France.
RB Leipzig confirmed earlier today that their rampaging left-back Angelino will miss tonight’s game, in what is good news for Trent Alexander-Arnold but quite the hammer-blow to the German side’s chances of turning this tie around.
Related: RB Leipzig's Angeliño: 'The pressure is more on Liverpool than us'
The latest in a long line of Liverpool centre-backs to succumb to injury, Ozan Kabak missed Sunday’s match against Fulham but has been back in training since and is expected to be available for selection.
While everything is going spectacularly pear-shaped for Liverpool on the domestic front, they are well-placed to advance to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Victory by two unanswered “away” goals in a first leg played in Budapest because of Covid travel restrictions leaves them nicely poised to advance from tonight’s second leg, which is also being staged in the Puskas Arena.
Given Liverpool’s calamitous form at Anfield, where they have lost six consecutive league games for the first time in their history, Jurgen Klopp and his players may relish this opportunity to play in this temporary home away from home. Kick-off in Hungary is at 8pm (GMT) but stay tuned in the meantime for team news and build-up.
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