Liverpool 2-0 RB Leipzig (4-0 on aggregate): Reds through to last eight

Only Cristiano Ronaldo (13) has scored more knockout goals than the Senegalese international (12) since Sadio Mane’s debut season 2017/18 in the Champions League.

Liverpool gave their ailing season a timely boost by defeating RB Leipzig to advance to the Champions League quarter-finals.

The English champions have seen their hopes of retaining the league title they won last June but ended with a shocking run of recent home form, including losing each of their last six games at Anfield.

But their quest for a second European crown in three seasons remains very much alive thanks to a more confident and relaxed portrayal in a technically home game, but which took place in the same location as the first leg – the Puskas Arena in Budapest.

For 70 minutes, Liverpool were extremely wasteful in front of goal but sealed the tie when Mohamed Salah hit the crossbar with a header after a goal from Leipzig, Alexander Sorloth.

Sadio Mane ensured absolute safety with a neat finish from Divock Origi’s excellent cross.

Jürgen Klopp’s team will find out the last eight opponents at the draw on Friday, March 19.

Salah and Mane offer hope of salvation

The rapid, shocking decline in domestic form that Klopp’s side has been plaguing recently means lifting the Champions League trophy next season looks more like a likely path back into competition.

Six home defeats in Spin have put Liverpool in eighth place, seven points from fourth.

During that run, they saw a shadow of the side that completely dominated the English top division in 2019-20, with widely publicized injuries and the resultant mixing of a sedentary side that stripped them of coherence and confidence.

Wednesday’s ad was a welcome step in the right direction for the Reds.

Central defense retained an inevitable rookie feel, but the presence of Fabinho alongside Thiago and Diogo Jota in attack gave Liverpool more solidity, smoothness and attack threat.

That said, they could make their life a lot easier by taking advantage of some of the multiple opportunities they create.

Salah, Mane and Jota all had great chances of putting the tie to bed before the break, but were either rejected by Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi or missed the target altogether.

Salah was particularly to blame when he saw a shot saved after a breakthrough before later firing at close range after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s neat retreat.

They were lucky that the German team – such successful scorers in the Bundesliga – were just as wasteful.

Hindered by the absence of the injured Angelino, Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann spent the second half sending the bench forward onto the field, including Justin Kluivert, son of former Dutch striker Patrick, but to no avail.

The fight left them the moment Salah’s low shot hit the net and Mane took advantage of it shortly thereafter.

The duo’s return to scoring form was timely in the context of this game, but above all for the entire season of the Reds, which can still be saved.

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RB Leipzig

1. Cadre number1PlayernameGulácsi

2. Cadre number22ndPlayernameMukiele

3. Cadre number5PlayernameUpamecano

4. Cadre number16PlayernameKlostermann

5. Cadre number44PlayernameKampl

6. Cadre number14thPlayernameAdams

7. Cadre number25thPlayernameOlmo

8. Cadre number7thPlayernameSabitzer

9. Cadre number18thPlayernamechicken

10. Cadre number9PlayernamePoulsen

11. Cadre number10PlayernameForsberg

1. Cadre number8thPlayernameHaidara

2. Cadre number11PlayernameHwang Hee-chan

3. Cadre number19thPlayernameSørloth

4. Cadre number21PlayernameKluivert

Constellations

Liverpool

formation 4-3-3

1Alisson

66Alexander-Arnold47Phillips19thpumpkin26thRobertson

6thThiago Alcantara3Fabinho5Wijnaldum

11Not correct20thWhom10mane

• 1Alisson
• 66Alexander-Arnold
• 47Phillips
• 19thpumpkin
• 26thRobertsonReplaced byTsimikasat the 90 ‘protocol
• 6thThiago AlcantaraReplaced byKeitaat the 71 ‘protocol
• 3Fabinho
• 5WijnaldumReplaced byMilnerat the 82 ‘protocol
• 11Not correct
• 20thWhomReplaced byOrigat the 71 ‘protocol
• 10maneReplaced byOxlade-Chamberlainat the 90 ‘protocol

replacement

• 7thMilner
• 8thKeita
• 13thAdrian
• 15thOxlade-Chamberlain
• 17thJones
• 21Tsimikas
• 23Shaqiri
• 27Orig
• 28Davies
• 46R Williams
• 53Davies
• 76N Williams

RB Leipzig

formation 3-1-4-2

1Gulácsi

22ndMukiele5Upamecano16Klostermann

44Kampl

14thAdams25thOlmo7thSabitzer18thchicken

9Poulsen10Forsberg

• 1Gulácsi
• 22ndMukiele
• 5Upamecano
• 16Klostermann
• 44KamplReplaced bySørlothat the 45 ‘protocol
• 14thAdams
• 25thOlmoReplaced byHaidaraat the 72 ‘protocol
• 7thSabitzer
• 18thchicken
• 9PoulsenReplaced byHwang Hee-chanat the 60 ‘protocol
• 10ForsbergReplaced byKluivertat the 60 ‘protocol

replacement

• 4thOrban
• 6thKonate
• 8thHaidara
• 11Hwang Hee-chan
• 19thSørloth
• 20thSamardzic
• 21Kluivert
• 23Halstenberg
• 33Martínez
• 39Henrichs

Live text

1. End of game, Liverpool 2, RB Leipzig 0.

2. The second half ends, Liverpool 2, RB Leipzig 0.

3. Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

4. Foul by Naby Keita (Liverpool).

5. Missed attempt. Konstantinos Tsimikas (Liverpool) left footed shot from outside the box goes up and wide to the left.

6. Substitution, Liverpool. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replaces Sadio Mané.

7. Substitution, Liverpool. Konstantinos Tsimikas replaces Andrew Robertson.

8. Corner of Liverpool. The corner was caused by Christopher Nkunku.

9. Away from Liverpool. Andrew Robertson attempts a pass, but Divock Origi is caught offside.

10. Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

11. Foul by Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool).

12. Corner of Liverpool. The corner was caused by Dayot Upamecano.

13. Attempt blocked. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Prepared by Naby Keita.

14. Amadou Haidara (RB Leipzig) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

15. Foul by James Milner (Liverpool).

16. Missed attempt. Divock Origi (Liverpool) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close but misses to the left. Prepared by Naby Keita.

17. Substitution, Liverpool. James Milner replaces Georginio Wijnaldum.

18. Missed attempt. Marcel Sabitzer (RB Leipzig) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Prepared by Christopher Nkunku.

19. Away from Liverpool. Trent Alexander-Arnold attempts a pass, but Sadio Mané is caught offside.

20. Marcel Sabitzer (RB Leipzig) wins a free kick in the defensive half.