The Champions League restored Liverpool's faith in itself and the 'reds' will be able to continue fighting for the seventh in their history after qualifying for the quarterfinals thanks to a new victory against Leipzig (2-0 in the second leg, after the 0-2 in the first leg, both games at the Puskas Arena in Budapest). Again, as in the first round, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané decided with two goals.
Liverpool parked the dramatic situation they live in the Premier, in which, in a nightmare 2021, they are 8th, 7 points from the Champions League area. A day before the one year mark of his elimination in the 2019-20 edition against Atlético, Jürgen Klopp's men knew how to offensively annul Leipzig, who missed the injured Angeliño a lot. It was a manual meeting on the part of the 'reds'.
The first half ended goalless, with Liverpool that had chances to finish the tie but remained firm in defense against Leipzig that reached the area but struggled to create opportunities. The best, a shot by Dani Olmo that Alisson deflected practically from the ground.
Fabinho, bright in the middle
Liverpool is another with Fabinho in the middle and Diogo Jota gave another freshness to the attack of the 'reds'. Klopp chose to line up Ozan Kabak and Nat Phillips in the backbone of defense and return the Brazilian to his usual position. And he was totally right. Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi was forced to respond with a great save to a header from the Portuguese winger in the 19th minute. In the final stretch of the first part, Jota again tested the goal with a good shot.
Already in the 3 ’Thiago forgave by practically not shooting against Gulacsi and preferring to give a pass that Salah could not pick up well. In the 24 ', neither Salah nor Mané could conclude a good counterattack from the' reds'.
Leipzig's chances were less clear, despite his harassment, crossed the equator of the first half, at Alisson's goal. Forsberg fired wide, Nkunku wide from afar. Liverpool won the battle in the middle zone and thus contributed to make the work of their defense easier.
A Leipzig under control
Under control, Leipzig continued after the break, ‘tied up’ by Liverpool, who were able to score on a double occasion by Jota and Salah. As he entered the final half hour of the game, Julian Nagelsmann's team was able to accelerate a bit more. After a high shot by Hee-Chan Hwang, Leipzig's best chance came on 65 ', a shot off the crossbar by Alexander Sörloth.
But it was a mirage. In 70 ', Liverpool counterattack led by Mané, who sent the ball to Diogo Jota and he assisted Salah, who beat Gulacsi with a left-foot shot. And in 74 ', a great play between Salah, Divock Origi and Mané, who scored the second of the' reds'.
Leipzig, who made history in 2019-20 by reaching the semifinals in what was their second Champions League appearance, were left out.
Liverpool, 2 – Leipzig, 0
Liverpool: Alisson; Robertson (Tsimikas, 90 '), Kabak, Phillips, Alexander-Arnold; Thiago (Keita, 72 '), Fabinho, Wijnaldum (Milner, 82'); Diogo Jota (Origi, 72 '), Salah and Mané (Oxlade-Chamberlain, 90')
Leipzig: Gulacsi; Nkunku, Klostermann, Upamecano, Mukiele, Adams; Forsberg (Kluivert, 60 '), Sabitzer, Kampl (Sorloth, 46'), Olmo (Haidara, 72 '); Poulsen (Hwang Hee-Chan, 60 ')
Goals: 1-0, Salah (70 '); 2-0, Mané (74 ')
Referee: Referee: Clément Turpin (France)
Stadium: Behind closed doors at the Puskas Arena in Budapest