Liverpool maintain 100% record in Europe as Salah’s spot kick downs Girona

Liverpool’s perfect start to their Champions League campaign stretched to a sixth straight win with Mohamed Salah’s penalty at Girona.

Mohamed Salah’s second-half penalty allowed Liverpool to maintain their 100% record in this season’s Champions League with a 1-0 win at Girona on Tuesday.

Runaway leaders in both the Premier League and European football’s new elite league phase, Liverpool are now on the brink of the last 16 with two games to spare.

Girona suffered their fifth defeat from six in the competition but made the Reds work for their victory and, in the opening half, had chances to take the lead.

There were foiled by Alisson, though, with the Brazil goalkeeper fit again and restored to the Liverpool XI for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury in early October.

While Liverpool struggled to create at times at the other end, they found their breakthrough from the spot in the 63rd minute after a VAR review highlighted a foul by Donny van de Beek on Luis Diaz.

Salah converted from 12 yards, and Liverpool were able to keep their hosts at arm’s length thereafter to continue a sensational season.

Salah was a predictable hero for Liverpool, netting his 16th of the campaign. With 12 assists, too, his 28 goal involvements in all competitions are the most of any player in Europe’s top five leagues this term. This winner was also his 50th Champions League goal.

But the Reds were also reliant on the returning Alisson, whose five saves ensured a fifth straight Champions League clean sheet for his side.

While Slot may have been slightly concerned by Girona’s ability to create 1.02 expected goals, with Newcastle United similarly productive in their last match, Liverpool will be delighted to have their star goalkeeper back as a last line of defense.

Liverpool resumes return to Premier League action at the weekend when they take on Southampton following the postponed Merseyside derby last weekend, while Girona travel to Mallorca in La Liga fixtures.