Two goals in 100 second-half seconds saw Liverpool beat a spirited RB Salzburg in Austria to progress in the Champions League.
Source: liverpoolfc.com
An important header from Naby Keita and an unexplainable finish from Mohammed Salah was enough to put Liverpool through as group winners.
Salzburg put in a hard-working, intense performance and caused Jurgen Klopp’s side problems in the first-half but ultimately they didn’t have enough to topple the European Champions.
Nevertheless, the German was keen to note the impressive display from the Austrian champions as well as his own sides performance.
He said: “I couldn’t have more respect for what Salzburg are doing. I really love it. But I love that my team are so smart, they listen and they put in a shift like that.”
Liverpool did what they always seem to do in this kind of situation; they found a way to win despite the fact numerous chances were spurned through the match.
Salah himself missed countless opportunities, most notably one in the first half that he dragged horribly wide, whilst Keita and Sadio Mane both had golden chances that were not converted.
Salah did however convert from one of his nine shots, albeit from a ridiculous angle, for Liverpool’s second in what was his most difficult chance of the night; something Klopp laughed about post-match.
Klopp said: “When we had the ball and we played calm we were immediately in front of their goal and we had sitters pretty much and didn’t score with these situations.
“Then we scored this wonderful goal and then Mo with the most difficult situation of the whole night he scores that goal.”
He added: “But it’s all good because that is what a striker has to do.”
Salah grabbed his goal expertly and the other guilty parties made amends with a sublime move that set up Keita for the opening goal.
Mane’s pace got him away from the defender and he looped a wonderful ball for Keita to head into the empty net.
Keita’s goal was merely the stamp of a beautifully composed performance in the resting place of Ludwig Van Beethoven.
The Guinea midfielder orchestrated the play from the number eight position and conducted Liverpool’s possession throughout the game.
Keita was at the heart of a symphony of Liverpool attacks, creating two chances with a 90% pass accuracy whilst also completing 100% of his dribbles.
Following on from his performance at Bournemouth on Sunday, Keita put in another man of the match display against his old club and has made the absence of Fabinho seem almost forgettable.
Consistency will be key for Keita over the coming months but should he keep up his form Klopp may finally have the £52 million midfielder he thought he was getting.
Another ex-Salzburg prodigy in the Liverpool camp was, of course, Sadio Mane and he put his old club to the sword on Tuesday night.
Liverpool’s number 10 was pivotal in the reds qualifying for the next round of the Champions League with an energetic display on his old stomping ground.
Mane created more chances (three) and made more dribbles (five) than anybody else on the pitch and vitally he got the assist for Keita’s goal that set Liverpool on their way to the last 16.
The Senegal forward’s all-round game was exceptional shown through his defensive output that matched that of any defender from either team.
Mane won two aerial duels and made two vital tackles that showed a side to his game that goes unnoticed by the mass media.
Mane has been ridiculous all season and he has shown no signs of stopping his relentless form.
Overall, Liverpool put in a mature display against a plucky Salzburg side and the confidence of the Austiran side should be commended.
They went toe-to-toe with the European champions and held their own for 45 minutes in a way that most teams would be too wary to even attempt.
Maybe the most disappointing result of tonight’s match is the fact Salzburg had to be eliminated, as to watch they are one of the most exciting in Europe.
Nevertheless, Liverpool had to do the necessary and send Jesse Marsch’s side to the Europa League. Liverpool can now park their interest in the Champions League until mid-February and focus on the busy schedule and the four other competitions that the next few weeks hold.
Brandon Russell
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