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Europe remains the sanctuary of Liverpool. Unrecognizable in their defense of the Premier League title there was something surprisingly familiar about Liverpool on the Champions League stage as Fabinho commanded central midfield, Mohamed Salah proved decisive and a beaming smile returned to Jürgen Klopp’s face. RB Leipzig, Germany’s second best team, was sidelined en route to the quarterfinals.
Time, and the way at home at Anfield rather than the Puskas Arena in Budapest, will tell if this was the night the Premier League champions rediscovered the self-confidence and spark they had lost this season. However, their confidence was unequivocally increased during an assured display against Julian Nagelsmann’s side, and Liverpool seemed freed from home troubles once Salah and Sadio Mané repeated the first leg with two second-half goals in quick succession. . The “hosts” were amused once more.
The only criticism of Liverpool’s performance was their waste in front of goal. The tie should have been settled before the break, although there was never any prospect of a poor Leipzig side conjuring a comeback. Nat Phillips and Ozan Kabak dismissed any concerns about their lack of Champions League experience, or understanding as a fledgling couple, with authoritative contributions in central defense. Fabinho, finally able to return to central midfield for the first time since October, brought long-awaited protection, intelligence and poise in his favorite role. Thiago Alcântara improved alongside him as a result.
Both goals came from good team play. Salah opened the scoring after a fluid pace of play in which Diogo Jota, Thiago, Mané and Jota participated again. Receiving the forward’s pass, Salah entered the cumbersome Dayot Upamecano before sending a distinctive left-footed shot inside Peter Gulacsi’s first post. Four minutes later, Mané pounced on an attractive cross from substitute Divock Origi and the aggregate score gave a true reflection of Liverpool’s superiority.
The contest had many similarities with the first leg and not only in regards to the score or the scorers. Leipzig caused problems by trying to play through the Liverpool press with defenders constantly struggling to do so. Nagelsmann persisted in the same ineffective manner, unforced errors piling up for Leipzig, while Liverpool displayed a level of control and creativity that has eluded them in the league this year. Only poor decision making and a poor definition allowed Leipzig to still have hope at the break.
Thiago was much more influential with Fabinho providing protection and could have opened the scoring from Liverpool’s first attack. Played down the middle by Georginio Wijnaldum, his captain for the night, the midfielder tried to free Salah inside the box when he had a clear vision of goal. Kevin Kampl intercepted Thiago’s pass and set the tone for a wasteful first half.
Mané flew from a tight angle after another incisive ball from Wijnaldum. Jota, starting in place of the injured Roberto Firmino, sent a powerful header into goal from a Trent Alexander-Arnold corner kick, but Gulacsi, the former Liverpool substitute goalkeeper, flipped magnificently. Gulacsi saved again when Thiago sent Salah into full throttle with an acrobatic punt from a Leipzig free kick. The low shot of the Egyptian international was rejected by the goalkeeper towards Mané, who made a mess with a header attempt from the rebound when it seemed certain that he would score.
Alexander-Arnold, like Thiago before him, chose to pass rather than shoot when Mané released him into the area. His attempt to cut Salah was intercepted by Upamecano. Jota sent another direct shot to Gulacsi before wasting a glorious opportunity when Upamecano inadvertently rolled the ball in his path while clearing from Salah. Jota, from six yards, hit the side net.
Leipzig’s chances, on the other hand, were few and far between. They showed little inclination to exploit the high defensive line that has brought Liverpool’s national opponents so much success and had little idea of how to break through a strong and concentrated baseline. Dani Olmo had an early glimpse of Alisson’s goal when Yussuf Poulsen sent a Christopher Nkunku pass to the midfielder. Alisson saved to its full extent and, in addition to watching Emil Forsberg drag a deflected shot, he enjoyed the rest of the first half as a spectator.
Nagelsmann recognized the need for a change and introduced Alexander Sørloth at half-time, as well as fellow forwards Justin Kluivert and Hwang Hee-chan at the hour. There was an immediate but short-lived improvement with Sørloth heading for the crossbar and Olmo firing from a distance seconds later. The Leipzig coach visibly perked up on the sidelines, but his optimism soon faded. Salah and Mané finally discovered the clinical touch Liverpool lacked and domestic problems were forgotten when Klopp’s team entered the quarter-finals. The light on Liverpool’s season has yet to go out.
