Liverpool faced off against RB Salzburg at Anfield earlier tonight hoping to pick up their first points of this UEFA Champions League campaign. The Reds started the contest on the front foot and went three goals up within 36 minutes through strikes from Sadio Mane, Andrew Robertson and Mohamed Salah. However, Hee-Chan Hwang got a goal back for Jesse Marsch’s side in the 39th minute when he scored after some clever footwork which deceived Virgil Van Dijk.
The visitors came out strong in the second half and managed to find a way back into the game courtesy of a goal each from Takumi Minamino and Erling Braut Haland. However, the Reds did not panic and netted the winning goal when Salah scored again from close range. The match finished with the European champions claiming a hard-fought 4-3 win over their Austrian counterparts.
Let’s take a look at how each Liverpool player performed during the match against RB Salzburg.
GK: Adrian – 6/10
The Spanish keeper could have done better to stop Hwang’s goal in the first half. However, he was a passenger and couldn’t do much when RB Salzburg managed to score two quick-fire goals after the half-time break.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7/10
The English full-back was a decent outlet for the Reds down the right flank. The Liverpool youngster whipped in some dangerous crosses from open play as well as dead-ball situations. He did his defensive duties well when called into action inside his own half.
CB: Joe Gomez – 7/10
The English centre-back was solid at the back and made some crucial clearances in the first half. However, his performance level took a slight dip in the second which was enough for Salzburg to find a way back into the game.
CB: Virgil Van Dijk – 6/10
The Dutch defender was a commanding presence and won most of his aerial duels with the opposition. However, he completely sold himself short in the lead-up to Hwang’s goal. Van Dijk could have organised his backline better before Minamino’s goal in the 56th minute.
LB: Andrew Robertson – 8/10
The Scottish full-back put in a tireless shift down the left-wing and was a force to be reckoned with for the Salzburg defenders in the first half. He scored only his second goal in Liverpool colours tonight which will give some confidence to contribute with some more goals in the coming weeks.
CM: Jordan Henderson – 4/10
The Liverpool captain distributed the ball accurately during th early stages of the contest. However, he looked jaded after the half-time break and was at fault for not winning any 50-50 duels in midfield. Klopp was right to replace him after Salzburg’s unexpected comeback in the second half.
CM: Fabinho – 6.5/10
The Brazilian talent worked his socks off in midfield and did enough to see out the win during the latter stages of the encounter.
CM: Georginio Wijnaldum – 6/10
Wijnaldum started the game positively, but his impact on the field faded as the match progressed. Origi came on to replace him in the 64th minute.
RW: Mohamed Salah – 7/10
The Egyptian winger was a frustrated figure as his flicks and tricks were not coming off in the final third. However, he managed to put himself in dangerous positions and has two goals to show for his efforts.
ST: Roberto Firmino – 8/10
The Brazilian forward dropped into pockets of space in midfield and created some brilliant goal-scoring opportunities in the offensive end of the field. Firmino didn’t put his head down even when Salzburg managed to pull off a dramatic comeback. He kept his cool to set-up Salah with his header, and the Egyptian made no mistake from close range to win it for Liverpool.
LW: Sadio Mane – 7/10
The Senegalese wide man opened the goal-scoring on the night and was a potent threat for the Salzburg defenders in the first half. However, he was not as effective in the second.
Substitutes:
CM: James Milner – 6/10
The English veteran was full of energy and offered adequate cover at the back which Henderson failed to provide during the early stages of the second half.
LW: Divock Origi – 7/10
The Belgian’s pace created some unwanted headaches for Jesse Marsch’s defenders after he came off the bench.
CM: Naby Keita – N/A
The Guinea international did not have enough time to make an impact on the pitch.
