Liverpool found their way past RB Salzburg in a thoroughly entertaining Champions League fixture, coming out 2-0 winners and topping their group in the process. The Austrian opposition put up a stern test, but the Premier League front runners created a host of chances and, thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah and Naby Keita, they will face a second-placed side in the round of 16.
Egyptian ace Salah caused headaches for the opposition defence all evening and, even though he was wasteful at times, eventually found the back of the next from an excruciatingly tight angle to seal all three points. Though his 23 passes were the lowest of any player on the pitch, the winger managed to provide two chances for his fellow Liverpool players, behind only Sadio Mane’s three for the Reds. Despite having made a particularly low number of passes, Salah’s accuracy was the highest of the Liverpool front three, 82.6 per cent, and it shows while he may not be the chief provider, the winger does not concede possession cheaply.
Though offensively there can be no doubting Salah’s attacking credentials, as he had nine shots, three more than his closest teammate Roberto Firmino, and only two less than the entire Salzburg side. He was uncharacteristically wasteful with his accuracy, however, as just a third of his shots were on target, as the Egyptian international missed a host of easier opportunities, before burying the most challenging one he was presented with. Meanwhile, his dribbles past opponents were also surprisingly low, but often Salah was the man finding himself on the end of chances instead of taking the ball around the opposing defenders himself.
Overall it was a reasonably routine evening for Jurgen Klopp’s side, but the end to end action was entertaining, nonetheless. Salah was one of the standout performers for Liverpool, and having been presented with numerous opportunities, the winger could have easily tripled his one goal, though with progression to the next stage of the Champions League assured his manager would not have minded.
