Darwin Núñez scores the winner as Liverpool continue their impressive run of form under Arne Slot

By Ian Parker, PA, Leipzig

Darwin Núñez’s first-half goal was enough to earn Liverpool a 1-0 Champions League win at RB Leipzig as Arne Slot’s outstanding start to his reign continued in Germany.

Against a club that will soon become a concern for former Reds manager Jurgen Klopp, Slott’s men set two new club records: the first Liverpool team to win their first six games away from home season and the first to win 11 of their first 12 games. .

Núñez, introduced to the starting eleven in place of the injured Diogo Jota, gave victory in the 27th minute, heading Mohamed Salah, and a seventh clean sheet of the campaign ensured victory.

At the top of the Premier League, and with nine points from three Champions League games, Liverpool’s results have been excellent, but after Slot warned he wanted to see his side dominate games better, there many sticky patches against a Leipzig side that had two goals disallowed.

Leipzig, who are level with Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich, started as the better team and were also on top at the end, but could not avoid a third consecutive Champions League defeat.

Without a dramatic twist, Klopp could find Red Bull’s football crown jewel facing an early exit from the competition when he takes over as world football boss in January.

However, they could have taken the lead a few minutes into the game. After a lapse by Kostas Tsimikas, starting in place of Andy Robertson, Xavi Simons lifted a shot.

Trent Alexander-Arnold gave the ball away but an unmarked Benjamin Sesko headed straight at Caoimhin Kelleher.

Amadou Haidara’s low shot was saved by Kelleher, but Liverpool’s substitute keeper almost missed it moments later, involved in a mix-up with Ibrahima Konate and then grateful to see Sesko bend his shot as he went back.

Lois Openda was clearly offside when she fired home in the 26th minute, but the disallowed goal seemed to finally wake Liverpool up.

A minute later, the visitors took the lead. Tsimikas crossed from the left and Salah headed home before Núñez stepped up to clear the line.

The momentum shifted immediately. Núñez was denied a second by Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi, the Hungarian who sat on the Liverpool bench 51 times in his early career without ever making an appearance.

Núñez wanted a penalty in the 38th minute after being run over by Leipzig skipper Willi Orban. Replays showed contact, but Swiss referee Sandro Scharer wasn’t convinced and VAR somehow failed to intervene.

Cody Gakpo fired into the net late in the half and had an even better chance four minutes after the break, somehow denied by Gulacsi after Lutsharel Geertruida, Slot’s former captain at Feyenoord, and Arthur Vermeeren they got in the way of each other. a Núñez cross.

Shortly before the hour Salah intervened on the right side, but bent his shot. A few minutes later, the Egyptian was unhappy to be substituted, no doubt thinking about Sunday’s trip to Arsenal, when Luis Diaz came on.

Alexis Mac Allister then saw a deflected shot bounce off the crossbar as Liverpool continued to spurn chances to end the game, and it almost proved costly.

First Kelleher did well to save from Sesko after Konate lost the ball. Moments later, the Irishman overturned a Simons shot.

Leipzig had the ball in the net again with seven minutes remaining but Openda was caught offside when he leveled the rebound after Kelleher got a hand to a Benjamin Henrichs cross and Liverpool went ahead hold on