Liverpool’s Champions League journey continues on Wednesday night, and the subsequent fixture will pit the early Premier League leaders towards the joint-Bundesliga frontrunners, RB Leipzig.
For the third time in Champions League historical past, Leipzig and Liverpool will go head-to-head in a battle of the early home league leaders.
Marco Rose misplaced key figures over the summer time, with defender Mohamed Simakan transferring to Saudi Arabia and Dani Olmo buying and selling Germany for Barcelona, and but his facet stay unbeaten in seven league video games.
Leipzig prolonged their run on Saturday in a 2-0 win at Mainz, a match that noticed the house supporters ship a message to Jurgen Klopp after he agreed to affix Pink Bull and oversee their multi-club mannequin.
“Have you ever forgotten all the pieces we gave you?” learn one banner criticising Klopp, whereas one other requested: “Are you loopy?”
These issues wouldn’t have involved Rose’s facet, although, as they scored twice within the area of 17 minutes halfway by the primary half to wrap up the victory.
Leipzig didn’t management the lion’s share of possession, ending the match with 47 %, and so they allowed Mainz to take 17 pictures on objective – none, nonetheless, have been deemed a giant likelihood by FotMob.
The guests made probably the most of their alternatives, with Xavi Simons netting the opener with a wise flip and end between the goalkeeper’s legs for his third objective of the marketing campaign.
Simons then set the second objective in movement 17 minutes later. He whipped a ball deep into the penalty field that was fumbled by the goalkeeper, permitting captain Willi Orban to attain one of many best objectives of his profession.
Mainz managed only one shot on the right track within the second half to permit Leipzig to register their fifth win of the season, taking them to prime of the Bundesliga alongside Bayern Munich on 17 factors.
The German facet made only one change to the facet that gained 1-0 in Heidenheim earlier than the break, with Lutsharel Geertruida changing the injured David Raum – who is predicted to overlook the remainder of 2024.
Rose made 5 substitutions in the course of the second half at Mainz, possible with Liverpool’s go to in thoughts, though Amadou Haidara is doubtful for the conflict after being compelled off.
Arne Slot‘s facet poses a giant problem to Leipzig, with the hosts one in all eight groups but to register some extent within the Champions League this season after shedding to Juventus and Atletico Madrid.
Leipzig XI vs. Mainz: Gulacsi; Klostermann, Orban, Lukeba; Vermeeren (Elmas 74′), Haidara (Kampl 56′), Geertruida, Nusa (Baumgartner 74′); Simons, Sesko (Henrichs 74′), Openda (Poulsen 84′)
Subs not used: Zingerle, Vandevoordt, Bitshiabu, Silva
