Say what you like about Darwin Nunez but he is lethal from 1.51 yards.
The Uruguayan’s poacher’s goal in Leipzig means Arne Slot could have more records than the British Library by the end of his first season. The Dutchman has guided his side where no Liverpool team has been before by winning eleven of their first twelve games of a season, including six consecutive away wins to start a campaign. Another club first.
“We should be proud because so many great teams have worn this shirt and so many great managers have been at the club, so to achieve something that hasn’t been done before is nice and almost impossible,” said Slot.
“But there is something that is much nicer than records and you know what I mean by that; trophies.”
The Champions League triumph over RB Leipzig will linger in the memory for those milestones more than the overall performance, although Slot was more content after this victory than against Chelsea. This was Liverpool at their most pragmatic rather than flamboyant, although one suspects the manager will be as thrilled with Nunez’s latest goal as much as any so far this season.
In the absence of Diogo Jota, Nunez carried greater responsibility to be the team player more than the maverick.
He was a bit of both, in truth, but the nature of his strike – virtually on the goalline when he tapped in Mohamed Salah’s latest assist after 27 minutes – is of the kind he needs to deliver more. The occasional spectacular effort is all and well and good, but penalty box predators can take a side far. In that respect, his scruffy winner was entirely in keeping with much of Liverpool’s display.
If victory over Chelsea was about a brave rearguard action, being pushed into retreat by a strong opponent, this was more erratic, the best moments sandwiched between a sloppy start and unnecessarily tighter finish when slicker opponents could have meted out punishment.
“We controlled the game in large parts apart from the last few minutes. We needed Virgil and Ibou (Konate) and our goalkeeper,” said Slot.
“If we had left this place with a draw then I would have felt we lost something.”
Liverpool won while giving the impression minds were already drifting towards Sunday’s trip to the Emirates stadium,
How else to explain Slot replacing Salah just after an hour, and also substituting Trent Alexander-Arnold and goalscorer Nunez when his side was trying to see out victory.
Leipzig had their chances. Caoimhin Kelleher made several saves and Leipzig had three goals ruled out for offside – a result of their striker’s carelessness more than bad luck.
“What will they be like when they really start playing well?” is a relevant question where Liverpool are concerned. There have been some complete performances against Manchester United and AC Milan. The pursuit of perfection is ceaseless.
In mitigation for the difficult opening, Liverpool could have been forgiven for thinking they were attending another Jurgen Klopp tribute night upon arrival. The Red Bull empire is still celebrating the coup of appointing their new head of football, and Leipzig coach Marco Rose seemed to be taking the deference to the ex-Kop manager to the extreme by turning up in full Klopp gear.
With his flat cap, greying beard, baggy hoodie and variety of mannerisms echoing Klopp’s, Liverpool’s players must have offered a double-take each time they looked at the technical area.
That may have even explained so much sloppy passing. Alexander-Arnold was lucky to escape on a couple of occasions, as was the wasteful Dominik Szoboszlai. Slot watched on bemused.
Kelleher was most relieved when dashing from his goal to make a headed clearance, offering Benjamin Sesko the chance for a spectacular finish from the left touchline. Ireland’s number one had earlier saved Amadou Haidara’s shot from distance as Leipzig found encouragement from Liverpool’s lapses.
But Liverpool’s firepower is such that a game can be turned in an instant. Cody Gakpo enjoyed himself on Liverpool’s left, and his combination with Kostas Tsimikas allowed the Greek full-back to cross for Salah to head across to Nunez.
From there, Liverpool settled. Nunez should have headed the second from another Gakpo cross, and when he was tripped by Willi Orban he was denied what looked like a clear penalty by Swiss referee Sandro Scharer.
Nunez’s general performance was encouraging, leading the line and linking with his team mates to such an extent his early substitution could be taken as a compliment as he will be unleashed against Arsenal this weekend.
“In the lead up (to the goal) Cody and Mo were just as important as Darwin. But Darwin was strong, comfortable on the ball, fighting if he had to defend, and he made it very difficult for the two centre-backs of Leipzig,” said Slot.
Alexis Mac Allister was closest to adding to the lead when his second half shot from distance clipped the top of the crossbar.
It was a case of job done with plenty to spare as Rose’s Klopp imitation did not extend to rousing his players or supporters for a memorable fightback.
Liverpool stride purposely on, neither haunted by the ghost of their former manager nor his lookalikes.
Slot’s Liverpool roll on after professional away performance: As it happened