Liverpool almost qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League after Mohamed Salah's VAR penalty earned them a narrow 1-0 win over Girona at the Municipal de Montilivi.
The result means that Liverpool have won their opening six games in a European campaign for only the second time in the club's history. In Liverpool's last outing against Newcastle, Arne Slot's side won for only the third time in 21 games under the Dutchman.
They arrived at Girona knowing that another win would move them closer to securing a place in the last-16 draw as one of the favourites. They cemented their position at the top of the standings after Donny van de Beek was penalized for a foul on Luis Diaz inside the box just after VAR intervened.
No player has been involved in more goals in Europe's big five leagues this season in all competitions than Mohamed Salah (28 – 16 goals, 12 assists)
Salah maintained his urgency to turn his spot-kick past Paulo Gazzaniga to keep Liverpool perfect.
The Egypt international became the 11th man to reach 50 Champions League goals, overtaking Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Kylian Mbappe with Thierry Henry (51) and Thomas Muller (54) now the view
After missing the spot a fortnight ago against Real Madrid, there was no mistake this time when he got the chance in the 63rd minute to extend an impressive scoring record to 11 of the last 16 games his
It had been a rather laborious performance from the Premier League leaders up to that point with Alisson making good saves to deny Bryan Gil and Arnaut Danjuma on his return to the side.
Twenty of Liverpool's last 23 goals have now come after the break, and they may already have enough points to finish in the top eight – according to other results in week six
The Slot team will return to European action in January at home to Lille, when they can mathematically make a last 16 tie against a team that has come through the playoffs.
Meanwhile, Girona are staring down the prospect of elimination after their fifth defeat in their opening six games.
Why Alisson's return is important
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson celebrates after their win
This result makes Slot happy to be able to turn in Liverpool's last two league level games. Don't underestimate the benefit of that as they try to fight on both sides.
Former Southampton and Chelsea midfielder Oriol Romeu admitted Girona will have to do their best to throw Liverpool out of their rhythm – and the hosts carved out a number of chances to hold on for a shock victory.
Brazil international Alisson helped the Reds to a fifth successive clean sheet in this competition, which they last achieved back in 2005. The 32-year-old had been sidelined since October with a hamstring problem saw him miss 11 games.
In his absence Kevin Kelleher has kept five clean sheets, including against Real Madrid and Manchester City, but made his first real mistake at Newcastle on Wednesday, with his late judgment allowing with the guests drawing 3-3.
Salah has now scored in four successive Liverpool starts in all competitions for the first time since December 2022
But Alisson has that extra quality. He showed that to thwart Danjuma on more than one occasion on a night when those in front of him were not at their best.
Girona's final result let them down, but when there were those moments of quality, it was Alisson who stood tall to ensure there were no hiccups in Catalonia.
Darwin Nunez, who has just one goal in his last 10 games, was twice denied by Gazzaniga, but the now all-too-common Uruguay international had another to trouble with his floating header from Dominik Szoboszlai's hanging cross meaning the supporting Curtis Jones and Salah could not capitalize.
Luis Diaz converted the penalty in the second half
But the visitors were not rude and would have been ahead if not for the lack of enthusiasm of Alisson and Daley Blind in front of the goal.
The Manchester United, Ajax and Bayern Munich defender's last goal was 11 months ago and that was evident from the look and miss of Miguel Gutierrez's cross into the six-yard box.
Alisson saved Alejandro Frances' follow-up effort, blocked Gutierrez's shot, raced himself to the right to keep out Yaser Asprilla's long-range drive. Liverpool rallied after the restart, and won.
Liverpool firing on all cylinders – Opta stats
Arne Slot has won his first six European games as Liverpool manager
- Liverpool have won all six of their UEFA Champions League games this season; spanning both the UEFA Champions League and the European Cup, only between September 2021 and February 2022 did the Reds achieve a longer winning run across the competition (7 games).
- This is the third time Liverpool have kept five consecutive clean sheets across both the UEFA Champions League and the European Cup, having previously done so in September-December 2005 and September 1983 – March 1984.
- Girona have failed to score in four of their six UEFA Champions League games this season (W1 L5), although their number of non-penalty goals is their third-highest in game in the competition this season, behind only their games against Sturm. Graz in November (1.67) and Feyenoord in October (1.52).
- In major European competitions, Liverpool have won five consecutive away games for the third time in their history after May 2022 (6 games) and September 1984 (5 games).
