Match report as Mohamed Salah penalty preserves Liverpool’s 100 per cent start to new Champions League format after Donny Van de Beek is penalised for foul on Luis Diaz; Liverpool have won their opening six matches of a European campaign for second time in their histor Mohamed Salah has now scored the joint-most penalties for Liverpool in the Champions League, level with

Match report as Mohamed Salah penalty preserves Liverpool’s 100 per cent start to new Champions League format after Donny Van de Beek is penalised for foul on Luis Diaz; Liverpool have won their opening six matches of a European campaign for second time in their histor

Mohamed Salah has now scored the joint-most penalties for Liverpool in the Champions League, level with Steven Gerrard

Mohamed Salah has now scored the joint-most penalties for Liverpool in the Champions League, level with Steven Gerrard

Liverpool all but qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League after Mohamed Salah’s VAR-overturned penalty secured a narrow 1-0 win over Girona at the Municipal de Montilivi.

The result means that for only the second time in the club’s history, Liverpool have won their opening six matches of a European campaign. In Liverpool’s last outing against Newcastle, Arne Slot’s side failed to win for only the third time in 21 matches under the Dutchman.

They cemented their position at the top of the standings after Donny Van de Beek was penalised for a foul on Luis Diaz inside the box only after VAR intervened.

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No player has been involved in more goals in Europe’s big five leagues this season across all competitions than Mohamed Salah (28 – 16 goals, 12 assists)

No player has been involved in more goals in Europe’s big five leagues this season across all competitions than Mohamed Salah (28 – 16 goals, 12 assists)

Salah kept his composure to convert his spot-kick past Paulo Gazzaniga to keep Liverpool perfect. It had up to that point been a somewhat laboured performance from the Premier League leaders 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 guarantee a top-eight finish – depending on other results in matchweek six.

Slot’s side return to European action in January at home to Lille, when they can mathematically secure a last-16 tie against a side to have come through the play-offs.

Meanwhile, Girona are staring at the prospect of elimination following a fifth defeat in their opening six games.

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Player ratings

Girona: Gazzaniga (8), Frances (5), Juanpe (6), Krejci (6), Blind (6), van de Beek (5), Romeu (7), Gutierrez (6), Asprilla (7), Gil Salvatierra (6), Danjuma (6).

Subs used: Stuani (6), Solis (n/a), Martin (n/a), Portu (6).

Liverpool: Alisson (6), Alexander-Arnold (6), Gomez (6), van Dijk (7), Robertson (7), Gravenberch (8), Jones (6), Salah (7), Szoboszlai (6), Diaz (7), Nunez (5).

Subs used: Endo (n/a), Gakpo (6), Elliott (6).

Player of the match: Ryan Gravenberch.