Liverpool made arduous work of their sixth Champions League sport of the season, needing a Mohamed Salah penalty to sneak previous Girona on Tuesday.
The Reds did sufficient to win the sport however actually didn’t dominate Girona, who went shot-for-shot with Arne Slot’s aspect and will have simply develop into simply the second aspect to attain towards Liverpool in Europe this yr.
That leaky defence did, nevertheless, supply a highlight for the returning Alisson, who seemed energetic again within the Liverpool aim.
How the sport unfolded
Joe Gomez had Liverpool’s first likelihood of the night simply 4 minutes in. He rose highest from a nook and powered a header in the direction of Paulo Gazzaniga, who reacted properly to tip the trouble over the bar.
Gazzaniga wanted to push away a fierce strike from Darwin Nunez quickly after, earlier than Girona maybe ought to have opened the scoring. Daley Blind discovered himself alone within the penalty space and was introduced with a tap-in, solely to utterly miss the ball, and simply moments later, Bryan Gil was despatched charging via on aim however misplaced his footing when one-on-one with the returning Alisson.
These moments introduced Girona to life and the hosts loved a number of vivid moments down the left, with Miguel Gutierrez and Arnaut Danjuma inflicting all kinds of issues for Gomez.
After an open 20 minutes introduced loads of half-chances for each groups, Nunez was once more annoyed by Gazzaniga from shut vary, earlier than Yaser Asprilla’s strike from outdoors the world wanted an acrobatic cease from Alisson.
Liverpool ended the primary half with 61% possession however certainly not answerable for proceedings, with Girona main when it got here to pictures heading in the right direction (4) and anticipated targets (0.8).
Girona didn’t decelerate after the restart and Danjuma spurned two good possibilities inside 4 minutes. He fired straight at Alisson for the primary after which, after some pleasant footwork to beat Gomez, utterly sliced his effort properly broad.
On the hour mark, Liverpool bought the break they wanted when a VAR verify noticed them awarded a penalty. Luis Diaz was tripped by Donny van de Beek, and up stepped Salah to web his fiftieth Champions League aim.
Girona’s composure pale after the aim however the La Liga aspect nonetheless supplied loads of risk on the counter, though Liverpool managed the closing levels and noticed out a sixth successive Champions League victory.
After a prolonged damage lay-off, Alisson returned to the Liverpool beginning lineup on the expense of Caoimhin Kelleher, who dropped to the bench.
The Brazil worldwide seemingly anticipated a quiet night time however positively needed to be at his greatest right here, with Liverpool’s porous defence forcing him into motion time and time once more. Danjuma and Asprilla each drew one of the best out of Alisson in a energetic affair.
Whereas questions do have to be requested of Liverpool’s again line, there can be no issues about any rustiness from Alisson.
The query of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s greatest place was raised as soon as once more right here. He lined up on the staff sheet as a right-back however started the sport in an inverted midfield position which induced his aspect all kinds of issues.
Joe Gomez was left remoted in defence as Girona clearly focused the world as a weak point, doubling up and spraying the ball over to that aspect at each given second. In assault, Alexander-Arnold’s presence contributed to a crowded midfield and, coupled with Mohamed Salah’s freedom to roam, left Liverpool with no outlet on the precise aspect.
Slot modified issues within the first half when Girona have been threatening to run away with proceedings, ordering Alexander-Arnold to remain deeper and wider. A smart transfer from the boss, who will now worry different rivals could have discovered their very own plan to fight Alexander-Arnold.
Look, this was hardly a foul Liverpool efficiency. They seem to be a good staff who most likely deserved to win this, however the truth that is even a debate is trigger for concern.
Girona are a mid-table La Liga aspect who misplaced 4 of their first 5 video games on this season’s Champions League, and but they went toe-to-toe with the aspect who most would describe as one of the best in Europe at this second.
Had they not benefitted from a handful of scuffed pictures, unlucky slips and VAR selections, Liverpool may have simply misplaced right here. Slot should determine what went unsuitable earlier than they return to Premier League motion towards Fulham on the weekend.
