Darwin Nunez’s first-half goal continued Liverpool’s perfect start in the Champions League as RB Leipzig were beaten 1-0 at Red Bull Arena.
With nine points amassed from three games, the Reds sit joint top of the competition’s league phase with Aston Villa after claiming an impressive away victory on Wednesday night.
Nunez was the match-winner as the Uruguayan’s poacher’s effort with 27 minutes on the clock settled the contest and saw Arne Slot’s team record an eighth consecutive triumph across all competitions.
Team news
Slot made three changes to his starting XI from Sunday’s win over Chelsea.
Nunez replaced the injured Diogo Jota, while Alexis Mac Allister and Kostas Tsimikas came in for Curtis Jones and Andy Robertson.
First half
Liverpool would end the first half very much in the ascendancy but it was Leipzig who began it on top.
Arthur Vermeeren sent a wayward shot off target inside the opening two minutes before Caoimhin Kelleher saved a firmly struck hit by Amadou Haidara.
Then, with Kelleher not getting enough power on his header when getting to the ball first while way off his line, Benjamin Sesko drifted an effort from near to the touchline narrowly wide.
And, after Mohamed Salah had failed in an attempt to beat Peter Gulacsi at his near post, Lois Openda drilled into the top corner from the edge of the area, though the flag was raised with the forward clearly having been offside.
Moments later, the pattern of the half was altered, however.
A fine move down Liverpool’s left resulted in Tsimikas standing a cross up to the back post which Salah sent back across goal with his head and, uncertain whether the ball would cross the line of its own accord, Nunez made sure by nudging it home.
Only an excellent stop from point-blank range by Gulacsi prevented Nunez from adding a quickfire second as the No.9 nodded Cody Gakpo’s inviting cross goalwards.
The Reds were now in complete control of proceedings and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s low drive was blocked before Virgil van Dijk’s glancing header off a Tsimikas corner was tipped over the crossbar by Gulacsi.
The referee was unmoved when Nunez appeared to be felled by Willi Orban inside the penalty area and Liverpool so nearly doubled their lead in spectacular fashion just before half-time as a sweeping move from back to front concluded with Gakpo rippling the side-netting from close range.
Second half
Slot’s team picked up where they left off after the interval and an outstanding save from Gulacsi thwarted Gakpo following strong, persistent forward play by Nunez.
Ryan Gravenberch earned the plaudits of his captain by producing a potentially goal-saving interception to quell the danger of Xavi Simons’ low delivery into the area but, despite the game state already being in their favour, Liverpool continued to carry the greater threat.
A trademark Salah curler didn’t trouble Gulacsi before Mac Allister clipped the top of the bar from the edge of the box after linking up gloriously with Dominik Szoboszlai.
Leipzig were finally able to stage a mini-revival of sorts with around 20 minutes remaining, but Kelleher denied Sesko and Simons in quick succession and the visitors wrested back the momentum.
A triple substitution that included Jones being brought on in place of Nunez perhaps signalled Slot’s intention to settle for a 1-0 victory and, while another Openda goal was ruled offside, Liverpool saw out the remainder to become the first side in the club’s history to win each of their opening six away matches of a campaign.
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