Liverpool are all but through to the Champions League last 16 after Mohamed Salah’s penalty clinched victory at Girona.
Arne Slot’s side were gifted a second-half spot-kick when former Manchester United and Everton midfielder Donny van de Beek caught Luis Diaz’s heel in the penalty area.
Salah dispatched his penalty with ease, sending Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga the wrong way to net his 46th Champions League goal.
Returning visiting goalkeeper Alisson Becker made a handful of good saves as Liverpool continued their perfect start to this season’s Champions League, and the Reds will be assured of a top-eight finish – sending them straight into the last 16 – if they get a point from their final two fixtures in the league phase.
Liverpool – who lead the league-phase table – would also be guaranteed a top-eight finish if other results go their way this week.
The Reds face Lille away and PSV Eindhoven at home in January.
They have won six out of six Champions League matches this season and have already secured a place in the knockout-phase play-offs – the round before the last 16.
Brazil’s Alisson was brought straight back into the starting XI and made good saves to deny Bryan Gil, Miguel Gutierrez and Yaser Asprilla in the first half, before the 32-year-old kept out Arnaut Danjuma from a tight angle in the second.
Photo Courtesy: PA Media
Against a Girona team who have lost five of their six matches in the Champions League this season, it was predictably Salah who made the difference as he so often does for Liverpool.
The Egypt forward has now scored 13 goals in 16 games in all competitions, and seven in his past six.
