BUDAPEST, March 10 (Reuters) – Second half goals Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane eased Liverpool into the Champions League quarter-finals with a 2-0 win in the second leg over RB Leipzig on Wednesday, to complete a comfortable 4-0 aggregate victory.
Liverpool, leading 2-0 from the first leg but again battling in the Premier League after six straight home defeats, had several chances to extend their advantage in the first half but lacked foresight.
Both legs of the last-16 tie were played at Arena Puskas in the Hungarian capital due to travel restrictions associated with Germany’s COVID-19.
Although it was an unusual ‘home’ game for Liverpool, there was a more familiar look to the 2019 Champions League winners lineup with Fabinho from Brazil back in a midfield role.
Mane had an early chance but tasted over from a promising position but Leipzig knew that one goal for them could set the nerve rattling on to Juergen Klopp’s side.
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker did well to smash a shot from Dani Olmo in the 11th minute while at the other end Diogo Jota saw a header tipped over the bar by Leipzig keeper Peter Gulacsi.
Gulacsi, a former Liverpool player, then did well again to keep Salah’s shot out after Egypt released a long ball forward by Thiago Alcantara.
The Germans continued to ask questions though with Emil Forsberg shooting wide from inside the box in the 33rd minute but Liverpool should have taken the lead before the break.
Gulacsi made another effort from Jota and then at the stroke of half-time the Portuguese forward wasted a great opportunity when the ball landed him in the back post, after defending Dayot Upamecano, but he fired into the net. Liverpool finally broke through in the 70th minute when Jota Salah fed, who cut across the top of the penalty area before drilling into the bottom corner.
Four minutes later, Mane made it 2-0 on the night when he met Divock Origi’s cross from the right with a finish for the first time, steering the ball home with the outside of his foot.
Klopp was pleased that his team was able to put their domestic tile aside to make the final eight in Europe and was particularly pleased with the performances of central defenders Ozan Kabak and Nathaniel Phillips.
“The middle half played an amazing game. The whole last line played an amazing game because that’s a tough task against Leipzig with the runs they do everywhere, ”he said.
“We had to press them, force them to play those slightly unruly balls forward. We defended deep together very well which is important. Everyone had a really good game. It was a good performance. ”