The visitors took all 3 points in the final game of the Champions League group stages

RB Salzburg 0-2 Liverpool - Hits and Flops as the Reds seal qualification to the knockout stages | Champions League 2019-20

Defending champions Liverpool visited Red Bull Salzburg in an all-important clash for both the teams in the final game of the Champions League group stages. The Reds needed to avoid defeat to qualify for the next round, whereas only a victory would have seen the Austrian team qualify. At the end of an exciting game which lived up to its hype, Liverpool came out on top with a 2-0 victory and finished group E as the winners.

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It was a game of two halves - both teams played brilliant attacking football in the first half and could have scored at least two apiece. However, in the second half, it was Jurgen Klopp's men who took over. Naby Keita scored his second goal in his second start as he headed into an empty goal, and then Mohamed Salah finished from an outrageous position for his team's second. Salzburg never recovered from that goal, and the game ended 2-0.

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Here, we take a look at the hits and flops from this game.

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#5 Hit - Alisson Becker

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It was a great night for Liverpool's goalkeeper
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During the first half, the scoreline remained 0-0 due to fantastic performances from both the keepers. However, Salzburg's keeper Cican Stankovic was caught out in the last 45 minutes, whereas Alisson Becker remained as big as ever in front of the Reds' goal.

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With seven saves, one claim and two clearances, the Brazilian international had a stellar night in which Liverpool also kept their first clean sheet of the game. It was a steady game for Alisson, whose positioning and passing is so good that you barely see him make any mistake both on, or off the ball.

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The Reds will be looking towards their goalkeeper as the big games start coming in now.

Also check out: Champions League Schedule Champions League table Champions league top scorers

#4 Flop - Roberto Firmino

It was an off night for the Brazilian
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While his Brazilian teammate shone on the other end of the pitch, Roberto Firmino's performance left much to be desired. Although not the traditional number 9 who scores a lot of goals, the striker's presence on the field felt almost negligible and he often slowed down attacks with his bad passing.

With a passing accuracy of just 76% and having only one shot the entire game, Firmino was subbed off in the 76th minute and had a night to forget. Despite being one of Liverpool's most important players, it is quite visible that the Brazilian international is the weakest member of the Reds front 3 for the time being.


#3 Hit - Mohamed Salah

Salah's goal tonight is a contender for one of the goal's of the season
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If ever a single game encaptured Mohamed Salah's form in 2019, it was this one. In the first half, the Egyptian could have put his team 1-0 up by finishing in front of an almost open net but he dragged the shot wide. He got caught by Stankovic twice after that, but then he went on and did something completely outrageous.

With the Salzburg keeper coming out, Salah took the ball wide and finished from an impossible angle to give his team a two-goal cushion. The forward had 9 shots (3 on target) in the game and made two key passes - all with only 37 touches of the ball. With two goals and an assist in his last two games, it seems that Salah is hitting form again at the right moment for Liverpool.

#2 Flop - Erling Haaland

The prolific teenager could not continue his goalscoring streak
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It was a do-or-die situation for Salzburg, and unfortunately, their main man had an off day. Having scored in all five of his previous Champions League games, the 19-year-old Erling Haaland was supposed to be his team's go-to guy tonight, but the striker failed to trouble the Liverpool defence.

With only 23 touches of the ball, Haaland could manage one shot on target and completed less than 77% of his passes. The forward often looked isolated and the Reds defence did not let him breathe in the final third. Overall, it was the first poor showing off the season for a youngster who still has the world at his feet - but he will be wanting to forget this game as soon as possible.


#1 Hit - Naby Keita

Keita returned to haunt his former club with a goal
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For the first time since acquiring him for £50M almost two seasons ago, Naby Keita is showing why the Reds spent so much on him. Against Bournemouth in the Premier League, the midfielder had his first brilliant showing in ages, and he followed that up with another fantastic performance in an all-important game.

The former Red Bull Leipzig man was at his creative best - he made 3 key passes and completed 4 dribbles as he tormented the Salzburg midfield. Also, it was he who scored Liverpool's first goal after receiving a great cross from Sadio Mane. The midfielder could also have had a couple of assists to his name had his teammates finished better.

With two goals and an assist in his last two games, Keita is finally starting to show signs of life with Liverpool. Klopp and the fans will hope that he steps up and continues to play like this during the busiest time of the year.

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Edited by
Vishal Subramanian
 
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