It is too early to judge Liverpool's credentials or their new form in the Champions League, according to Arne Slott. It is not too early to judge the start of Slott's career with Liverpool. Surprisingly, the new coach achieved another victory on a difficult night in Leipzig.
For the first time in their rich history, Liverpool won 11 of their first 12 games in a season and won their first six away games since the start of a campaign. Red Bull's global director of football Jurgen Klopp will soon attract attention, and his latest honor came with Darvin Nunez's tap-in against a club that has just escaped Leipzig without a point in the Champions League. Liverpool, with three wins in three games, is almost finished. Maybe.
Leipzig have had an excellent start to the season in the Bundesliga, unbeaten after seven games and second on goal difference behind Bayern Munich, but the Champions League has proven to be a tricky affair. Marco Rose's side had a reasonably difficult introduction to the new long-term form, but defeats to Atletico Madrid and Juventus heralded the arrival of the Premier League leaders. They started impressively here and created enough chances to take the lead before conceding Liverpool's first significant attack of the night.
Liverpool's performance paralleled Sunday's Premier League victory over Chelsea. For 25 minutes, Slott's team was passive, careless in possession and dominant. Leipzig posed a greater threat than Chelsea, Xavi Simmons firing in vain in the second minute and Benjamin Cesko heading a free header past Caomin Kelleher moments later. Amadou Haidara tested Liverpool's substitute goalkeeper from a short corner, and Cesco fired an ambitious effort wide after Kelleher's weak headed clearance remained in play. Lois Opanda found the top corner with a turn, but was clearly offside when she received Simons' pass.
Then Liverpool struck, unable to maintain the quality of their front line for long, and the balance of the game changed in an instant. Cody Kakpo maintained his place ahead of Luis Díaz and demonstrated the choice of the position with an excellent display. The Netherlands international exchanged passes with Kostas Simikas, who floated from the byline past Costello Lukeba and over the head of Mohamed Salah. Salah's placed header was intended for the far post, but Núñez did what any goalscorer had to do and secured the finishing touch on the line.
Liverpool immediately took control. Nunes should have had a second moment later, when Kagbo was released by a wonderful cross ball from Trent Alexander-Arnold and delivered a perfect cross on the outside of his foot towards the Uruguayan international. The centre-forward connected cleanly, but former Liverpool goalkeeper Peter Gulasi headed home from close range. Gulachi also deflected Virgil van Dijk's header after Liverpool captain Simikas was left unmarked from a corner.
Leipzig captain Willy Orban was very lucky not to concede a penalty minutes before half-time when he caught Núñez as the striker entered the area. Orban burst down the left but eventually jammed his leg and the striker caught the jumper out of bounds. Swiss referee Sandro Scherer dismissed the penalty appeal, but the VAR confirmed it. They probably thought Nunez initiated the contact. If so, the striker should have been booked, with an incredulous Alexis Mack showing Allister a yellow card for an apparent dive. Both Núñez and Mac Allister made their feelings clear to the referee by leaving the field at half-time.
Gulachi redeemed Leipzig again early in the second half after good work from Núñez, an angry man with a mission. Benjamin took advantage of a loose ball from Henrichs and the centre-forward burst onto the byline before missing a cross that had to be cleared by Arthur Vermeeren and Lukéba. They made a hash and let the ball run between the goal without marking. He looked certain to score, but Gulachi saved with his extended right leg. Liverpool created and missed clear opportunities to double their lead.
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Mack Allister was denied by the crossbar after a clever exchange with former Leipzig midfielder Dominik Szoboslai created space for a long-range shot. Leipzig's threat was often undermined by a poor last ball, but Simons' influence increased and the threat of an equalizer remained. Kelleher was eventually called into action twice in less than a minute and fired the hosts on both occasions. Alisson's substitute saved with his feet when Simons gave Cescow a glorious chance to equalise, then turned acrobatically when Simons' shot almost deflected towards Nunez.
Leipzig's most creative outing was soon over, but the home team almost equalized when Heinrichs broke down the right and forced Kelleher into a low save. Obanta was brought down for a loose ball, but was denied an offside flag for the second time.
