Another nearly night as Liverpool's Nuñez sinks Leipzig

Die Roten Bullen played host to Premier League table-toppers Liverpool this evening, where a solitary strike from Darwin Nuñez gifted Liverpool a 1-0 win. 

Another difficult evening of European action for Marco Rose’s side who fell to a third consecutive defeat in this season’s UEFA Champions League league phase. Despite giving it their all, Darwin Nuñez’s first-half goal provided the difference on the night where Leipzig spurned chance after chance.

Leipzig made a lively start this evening under the bright floodlights. Marco Rose’s side even managed to find the net on 16 minutes, however the offside flag followed to nullify any celebrations. Loïs Openda clearly received the pass from Xavi Simons in an offside position. With the subsequent attack, Liverpool established a 1-0 dead via Darwin Nuñez’s predatory instincts. Tsimikas’ cross from the left was redirected by Salah for the Uruguayan to tap in. Slot’s men could have doubled their advantage had Gulacsi not denied Darwin again. 

Marco Rose’s side started better in the second-half and signalled their intent with a rapid counterattack from the left. Gravenberch’s last gasp tackle did enough to prevent Šeško pulling the trigger. Leipzig’s presence continued to grow while Salah was withdrawn slightly after the hour for Luiz Diaz. There was a heart-in-mouth moment when Gulacsi briefly fumbled a Nuñez effort, but the Hungarian recovered well before Diaz could capitalise. 

Chances started to flow at either end entering the final quarter. Alexis MacAllister thumped a simply lethal strike off Gulacsi’s crossbar, while at the opposite end Caoimhin Kelleher denied Benjamin Šeško on the angle. Having sustained a heavy knock in a duel Xavi Simons limped off. Suddenly, Openda and Leipzig looked to strike for parity with seven minutes left. Once again the offside flag fluttered high as the Belgian crept offside before Kelleher saved Henrichs’ shot.