RB Leipzig v Liverpool Live Commentary & Result, 16/02/2021, UEFA Champions League

Thanks for joining our commentary this evening. Until next time, goodbye.

RB Leipzig are next in action against Hertha Berlin away in the Bundesliga on Sunday. Liverpool take on Everton in the Merseyside derby at Anfield on Saturday.

Liverpool will take a 2-0 lead into the second leg of their Champions League round-of-16 clash against RB Leipzig after recording a comfortable victory tonight at the Puskas Arena. Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane capitalised on defensive mistakes to secure the win for the Reds. The German outfit were unable to get a goal back, missing decent opportunties to leave themselves with an uphill challenge at Anfield.

90' + 4' FULL-TIME: RB LEIPZIG 0-2 LIVERPOOL

90' + 3' CHANCE! Hwang misses a golden opportunity to get a goal back for the German side. The striker latches on to Adams' throughball in the right inside channel and he clips a strike past the onrushing Alisson, but the ball travels inches wide of the left post.

90' There will be three minutes of added time.

N. Williams

Mohamed Salah

90' Williams replaces Salah for the closing stages.

88' Leipzig have lacked a clinical edge tonight. The German outfit will need a special effort in the second leg to overturn a two-goal deficit unless they can score late here.

86' Liverpool are edging their way towards an important win tonight. However, Klopp will want his team to end the game with a clean sheet to give them a firm grip on the tie.

84' Kabak has to be alert at the back to prevent Hwang reaching a forward pass from Sabitzer. The defender clears the danger for the Reds.

83' OVER! Hwang cuts a cross back into the box from the right inside channel that bounces as far as Klostermann on the edge of the box. The defender lines up a strike on the half-volley, only to slice his attempt over the bar.

J. Henderson

Yellow Card

81' Henderson pulls back Hwang down the right flank and is booked by the referee.

80' CHANCE! Angelino is played in down the left inside channel by Adams. He goes for a first-time volley, but he miscues his effort wide of the target.

79' WIDE! Sabitzer latches on to a headed clearance by Robertson on the edge of the box and pulls the trigger on a right-footed strike. However, he drags his strike well wide of the target.

77' Nagelsmann is cutting a frustrated figure on the sideline. His team have not performed to their potential tonight.

Daniel Olmo

Yellow Card

76' Olmo pulls back Mane on a surge upfield and is booked by the referee.

Hwang Hee-Chan

K. Kampl

73' Hwang replaces Kampl for the German outfit to bolster their attacking options.

73' Nkunku probes in the final third and he goes down under pressure from Alexander-Arnold, but it's good defending from the Liverpool man as the ball trickles behind for a goal-kick.

73' Oxlade-Chamberlain surges down the right flank and he powers a low ball across the face of goal. However, there's no Liverpool player there to capitalise.

A. Oxlade-Chamberlain

Thiago Alcântara

72' Thiago is replaced by Oxlade-Chamberlain in the Liverpool midfield.

X. Shaqiri

Roberto Firmino

72' Firmino is withdrawn for Shaqiri in the final third.

71' Mane's touch lets him down in the box as Salah curls a perfect pass for the Senegalese. The forward is in acres of space, but he allows it to escape his boot and Gulasci gathers with ease.

69' Angelino clips a cross into the box and Klostermann heads the ball across the face of goal. It just evades Sabitzer, although Klostermann was offside from the free-kick anyway.

O. Kabak

Yellow Card

68' Kabak slides in from behind on Poulsen and goes into the book.

68' Sabitzer carries the ball forward into the final third and looks for a pass over the top to Poulsen, but he overhits his delivery out for a goal-kick.

Angeliño

Yellow Card

65' Angelino brings down Jones on the charge and goes into the book.

Y. Poulsen

A. Haidara

64' Haidara is withdrawn for the German outfit and is replaced by Poulsen.

V. Orban

N. Mukiele

64' Mukiele's bad evening comes to an end as he is replaced by Orban at the back.

64' Leipzig's defensive issues in the Champions League have continued tonight. The German outfit have only kept a clean sheet in four of their 23 Champions League matches.

63' WIDE! Olmo almost finds space in the Liverpool box to fire at goal, but between Robertson and Thiago, the two players do enough to force his strike wide of the right post.

62' Mane has 11 goals in 17 CL knockout matches for Liverpool.

61' WIDE! Nkunku sends Angelino down the left flank and he has space to fire at goal, but under pressure from Alexander-Arnold, he places his attempt wide of the left post.

C. Jones

Assist

58' Jones launches a simple ball over the top for Mane to pursue. He notches an assist as Mukiele misses the clearing kick and allows Mane to collect and score.

S. Mané

Goal

58' GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!! MANE CAPITALISES ON ANOTHER LEIPZIG MISTAKE!! 2-0 LIVERPOOL!!! Mane seizes on an error by Mukiele and slots a low strike into the bottom-left corner. Jones sends a hopeful ball forward for Mane to chase. Mukiele makes a terrible attempt to clear the danger and falls to the ground. The Senegalese scoops up possession, runs into the box and completes the finish past Gulacsi. All too easy for Liverpool.

55' Amongst all players within the top five European league’s this season, only Robert Lewandowksi (30) has scored more goals in all competitions this season than Salah (24).

Mohamed Salah

Goal

53' GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!! SALAH FIRES LIVERPOOL IN FRONT!!!! 1-0!!! The Reds take the lead as Salah drills a low strike past Gulacsi. Sabitzer plays a loose backpass towards Angelino and the Egyptian intercepts before surging through on goal. He holds his composure to fire a left-footed effort into the bottom-right corner. Clinical from Salah.

C. Nkunku

Yellow Card

52' Nkunku catches Kabak with a stray arm to the face in an aerial duel and goes into the book.

50' Leipzig have responded since the break after going through the motions from the majority of the first half. Nagelsmann will want to see more of the same from his team.

48' Angelino feeds the ball into Olmo in the box, and the Spaniard tries to turn. However, he loses control before he can strike amid pressure from Jones.

47' SAVE! Olmo sends Nkunku through on goal as the forward surges away from Henderson. He tries to fire his effort past Alisson, but the keeper spreads himself to divert the ball wide of the target.

46' We're back underway at the Puskas Arena.

After their collapse against Leicester City, Jurgen Klopp will be pleased with his side's response. They now face an important 45 minutes to keep the game in control heading into the second leg at Anfield. Leipzig will be looking to up the ante after a sedate effort after an initial burst early in the contest.

It's goalless at the break between RB Leipzig and Liverpool in their Champions League round-of-16 clash. The German outfit have come closest to breaking the deadlock as Daniel Olmo struck the post. Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino have had decent chances for the Reds, but lacked the cutting edge needed to find the back of the net.

45' + 1' HALF-TIME: RB LEIPZIG 0-0 LIVERPOOL

45' There will be one minute of added time.

43' Alexander-Arnold whips a free-kick towards the near post, but Sabitzer rises to clear the danger. The cross was not the best from the Liverpool full-back.

42' Kampl catches Jones with a late challenge and hands Liverpool a free-kick on the right flank in a useful position.

41' Alexander-Arnold tries to send Mane behind Mukiele down the left flank, but he overhits his delivery out for a goal-kick.

38' OVER! Olmo drifts off the back of Henderson and rises to head at goal from Angelino's cross, but he can only head his effort over the bar.

36' DISALLOWED GOAL! Mane sees a strike charged down by Mukiele and then miscues a second effort after being teed up Firmino. The ball heads towards the byline, but the forward scoops a cross back into the middle for Firmino to head home. However, the lineman spots the ball was out before th Senegalese sent it back into the middle.

33' Gulacsi falls into the net as he races back to his goal. He requires treatment, but is fine to continue for the German side.

32' OVER! Gulacsi has to scamper off his line to clear ahead of Mane as Robertson releases the forward behind the Leipzig defence. However, the clearance travels straight to Robertson and he lifts a strike towards goal with the keeper scampering back. The ball travels towards the target, but sails narrowly over the bar.

30' Henderson has to be alert in the box to direct Angelino's cross from the left flank behind for a corner. The full-back has been a threat down on the wing for the German side.

27' WIDE! Alexander-Arnold works an offload towards Firmino, but the forward hits the ground before connecting with a strike at goal, guiding the ball wide of the right post.

26' Liverpool are dominating possession and are pushing the German outfit back deep into their own half. Klopp will be pleased with his side's performance thus far.

24' OVER! Salah releases Firmino down the right flank and the Brazilian angles a cross into the box. Mane rises above of Mukiele in the box, only to guide his header over the bar.

22' Klostermann gives the ball away under pressur from Salah and Alexander-Arnold sends a first-time cross into the middle. However, Upamecano is well placed to head clear ahead of Firmino.

20' Upamecano gives the ball away and Jones releases Salah. The forward has a run at the Leipzig defender, but is unable to break past his opponent.

18' WIDE! Angelino has space on the left flank and opens up his body to strike at goal, but he plants his effort well wide of the target.

17' SAVE! Sabitzer collects in an advanced position on the edge of the box. He turns to fire at goal on his right foot, but Alisson gets down to make a comfortable stop.

16' Liverpool look for the ball behind the Leipzig defence again as Robertson loops a cross deep for Salah. Klostermann tracks it in the air and makes a good headed clearance.

15' SAVE AND WIDE! Alexander-Arnold releases Salah through on goal in the right inside channel. The forward tries to lift his strike over Gulacsi, but the keeper blocks it with his body. Firmino gathers the rebound, but slams his effort into the side-netting from a tight angle.

13' Salah chases a ball over the top down the left flank and he has support in the middle. However, his offload goes behind Firmino and Upemecano can clear the danger.

11' Firmino rises in the box from Alexander-Arnold, but he loops his header straight into the arms of Gulacsi on the bounce.

10' Mane closes down Mukiele and forces a mistake. The ball falls for Salah in the right inside channel, but Upamecano deflects his cross behind for a corner.

8' Adams sends a ball over the top for the run of Sabitzer, but the midfielder is caught just a fraction offside he tries to offload for Olmo.

N. Mukiele

Yellow Card

6' Mukiele brings down Mane with a heavy challenge and is booked by the referee.

A. Haidara

Yellow Card

5' Haidara goes into the book for the German outfit.

5' OFF THE POST! Olmo is denied by the post. Angelino surges down the left flank and cuts a cross back into the box. Olmo connects with a diving header towards the bottom-left corner, but the ball cannons off the post and bounces to safety.

2' Thiago brings down Sabitzer with a loose challenge. Leipzig get the free-kick and the Liverpool midfielder now has to be very careful.

1' Salah has space down the right flank and offloads for Alexander-Arnold. He clips a cross towards the near post that is cleared by Upamecano.

1' We're underway at the Puskas Arena.

Liverpool are unbeaten in their last five away games against German sides, in all competitions (W3 D2). Their last defeat was in April 2002 against Bayer Leverkusen, in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League (4-2).

Liverpool have made only one change to their side that was beaten by Leicester at the weekend. Milner is missing due to injury and is replaced by Thiago in the midfield. Klopp keeps faith with Kabak and Alisson despite their mistake for Leicester's second goal at the weekend.

RB Leipzig have made three changes to their side from their win over Augsburg. Upamecano returns in the backline to replace Orban, who drops to the bench with Halstenberg. Sabitzer gets the nod in the middle of the park, while Adams comes into the side on the left side of a three-man attack. Poulsen starts the contest on the sidelines.

LIVERPOOL SUBS: Adrian, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Konstantinos Tsimikas, Xherdan Shaqiri, Divock Origi, Ben Davies, Rhys Williams, Nathaniel Phillips, Caoimhin Kelleher, Jake Cain, Leighton Clarkson, Neco Williams.

LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alisson; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ozan Kabak, Jordan Henderson, Andy Robertson; Curtis Jones, Georginio Wijnaldum, Thiago Alcantara; Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane.

RB LEIPZIG SUBS: Willi Orban, Ibrahima Konate, Yussuf Poulsen, Hwang Hee-Chan, Alexander Sorloth, Lazar Samardzic, Justin Kluivert, Marcel Halstenberg, Josep Martinez, Fabrice Hartmann, Benjamin Heinrichs.

RB LEIPZIG (4-3-3): Peter Gulacsi; Nordi Mukiele, Lukas Klostermann, Dayot Upamecano, Angelino; Marcel Sabitzer, Amadou Haidara, Kevin Kampl; Christopher Nkunku, Daniel Olmo, Tyler Adams.

Liverpool have seen the defence of their Premier League crown capitulate over the last few weeks. Jurgen Klopp's men lost their third game on the bounce in the Premier League, collapsing to a 3-1 loss against Leicester City at the weekend after taking the lead. The Reds need a response and have the perfect opportunity to find their form outside of the pressures of the Premier League. The Merseysiders were impressive in the group stage and will be looking to regain their touch tonight.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions regarding travel into Germany, RB Leipzig have been forced to play their home leg in Hungary. Julian Nagelsmann's side defeated Manchester United in their final group game to advance to the knockout stage, finishing second in Group H. The German outfit are in dangerous form having won their last four matches in all competitions, including a 2-1 triumph over Augsburg in the Bundesliga last time out. The club reached the semi-finals of the Champions League last season and will have similar ambitions this term, although the Reds will provide a huge obstacle despite not being at their best.

Good evening and welcome to the live commentary of the Champions League round-of-16 clash between RB Leipzig and Liverpool at the Puskas Arena.

RB Leipzig v Liverpool Live Commentary, 16/02/2021

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