Liverpool’s remarkable start to the season continued on Wednesday with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over RB Leipzig in the Champions League. This win marked their third consecutive victory in the group stage, cementing their dominance early on. It also extended their impressive run to six consecutive away wins, a new club record, demonstrating the depth and resilience of this new era under manager Arne Slot.
Slot, who has taken over the reins from the legendary Jurgen Klopp, has enjoyed a dream start to his tenure. He’s won 11 of his 12 games at the helm, another club record, and has instilled a winning mentality throughout the squad. This was evident in Leipzig, where he had to rely on several second-choice players due to injuries.
One such player who shone brightly was Darwin Nunez, who was handed a starting opportunity in the absence of the injured Diogo Jota. The Uruguayan forward, known for his occasional frustrating moments, delivered a performance full of energy and determination, justifying his manager’s faith in him.
Nunez scored the winning goal, was denied a clear penalty, and forced a brilliant save from Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi. This performance highlighted his ability to step up and make a difference when called upon. “What I liked from Darwin was that he was also strong, comfortable on the ball, kept the ball a lot, fighting if he had to defend, so he made it a really difficult game for the two centre backs of Leipzig,” Slot said. “And then for him scoring, I think that is always nice for a striker to be on the scoresheet.”
In goal, Caoimhin Kelleher, deputising for the injured Alisson, also played a pivotal role. He produced two outstanding saves in the closing stages to preserve Liverpool’s lead. Slot was quick to acknowledge the contributions of his stand-in players, emphasizing the strength in depth within the squad: “We are very fortunate. It’s also normal at a club like ours to have two very good players in every position,” Slot said. “We are happy that we have two excellent goalkeepers. But it’s not only him — other players who maybe haven’t played that much this season or haven’t been starting also showed up today.”
The victory in Leipzig sets the stage for a crucial Premier League clash against Arsenal on Sunday. A win against the Gunners would propel Liverpool seven points clear at the top of the table, solidifying their early season dominance. With the upcoming busy schedule in mind, Slot was forced to make tactical substitutions, including taking off Mohamed Salah for the final 30 minutes. “We have some injuries now so I have to take good care of the players that have played a lot and Mo is one of them and on Sunday, a big game is coming up again,” Slot said. “So, I need to use as many players as I can use for these next tough weeks and these tough months that are coming up, so that they are all prepared to play.”
Liverpool’s impressive start to the season is a testament to their depth, quality, and the astute management of Arne Slot. With a busy fixture list ahead, their squad depth will be crucial in maintaining their momentum and challenging for the title on multiple fronts.