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Liverpool secured a place in the Champions League quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over RB Leipzig in Budapest on Wednesday night.
The Reds took the lead in Hungary with 20 minutes to go when Diogo Jota pulled on Mohamed Salah, who cleverly finished with a reverse shot to make it 3-0 on aggregate.
Sadio Mane doubled the lead moments later when he took advantage of substitute Divock Origi’s launch from the right.
It was Salah and Mane who decided the first leg for Liverpool last month, and their goals at the Puskas Arena once again secured Liverpool’s place in the round of 16 of the tournament.
Team news …
Liverpool made five changes since Sunday’s loss to Fulham, with Ozan Kabak and Trent Alexander-Arnold returning on defense. Fabinho was deployed in a midfield role, while there were also starts for Thiago Alcantara and Mane.
First half…
With COVID-19 restrictions in Germany preventing Leipzig from playing the match at Anfield, Budapest’s impressive Puskas Arena served as the venue for Liverpool’s ‘home’ game, as it had for the opening match three weeks earlier.
With a two-goal lead in that first clash in the Hungarian capital, the Reds sought to strengthen their control in the early stages, and had it not been for the intervention of Lukas Klostermann, Thiago would have put Salah in a clear shooting position inside. of the field. area.
However, Leipzig threatened at half-time with 10 minutes remaining, but Alisson Becker made a strong block to thwart Dani Olmo’s close effort after the ball was attractively broken inside the box.
At the other end, former Liverpool goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi needed to conjure up a save of his own to thwart Jota’s powerful header from the Alexander-Arnold corner.
Liverpool caused their opponents concern once again in the 23rd minute when a spectacular pass from Thiago sent Salah hurtling, but Gulacsi saved his curling iron attempt before Mane was unable to push off an awkward rebound with his head.
Then, Dayot Upamecano prevented Salah from turning on an Alexander-Arnold cutout after an incisive pass from Mane freed the right-back into space down the right.
Tyler Adams had an effort saved by Alisson before Emil Forsberg launched a low shot inches from the post for Leipzig, who showed their threat.
When the counterattack came into view, Jota pushed his way into the area before shoving Gulacsi, and the Portugal forward should have scored in injury time when he hit the side net after the ball was deflected through the goal on your way.
Second half …
Leipzig increased the pressure on Liverpool’s backline after the restart, but the Reds’ defense held firm.
On the occasion that the Bundesliga club gave a chance, substitute Alexander Sorloth watched his looped header hit the goal frame before Nathaniel Phillips punched out.
And their hopes of turning the tie around were dashed with 20 minutes of normal time remaining.
A counterattack saw Mane release Jota, who in turn passed the ball to Salah. The Egyptian entered Upamecano before reversing a low shot into the corner past Gulacsi.
Jürgen Klopp retired Jota and Thiago afterwards, sending in Naby Keita and Origi, with the latter having an instant impact.
Picking up the ball from the right, he launched a low cross that crossed the face of the goal, leaving Mane tasked with tapping from inside the six-yard box to complete the job and send Liverpool to the quarterfinals.
