11 January 2025 13:44:13

Liverpool needed a second-half penalty from Mohamed Salah to overcome a tough night in Spain and maintain their perfect Champions League record.

Salah scored his 16th goal after the season when Luis Diaz was fouled inside the penalty area and one strike was enough to beat Girona.

Liverpool won six out of six and opened up a five-point gap at the top of the table heading into the night's later matches.

Salah has scored in four consecutive away games for Liverpool and once again proved he is a difference-maker.

The win means that one point from the last two matches will be enough for Liverpool to secure a top-eight finish in the season.

Alisson returns in style

Defender Joe Gomez was prevented from scoring his first goal with Liverpool after Paulo Gazzaniga reacted to a header from close range, and the goalkeeper also blocked a shot from Darwin Nunez minutes later.

Girona, with every player behind the ball, were happy to break on the counter-attack and Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson, who made his first appearance since early October after a hamstring injury, was quickly recalled.

Daley Blind missed a cross on the edge of the six-yard box, but the ball fell to Alejandro Francis and his effort was blocked by Alisson at the second attempt, and he later blocked a shot from Miguel Gutierrez.

Nunez saved another attempt when Salah passed it, and Girona responded with a shot from outside the penalty area by Yasser Asprilla, which Alisson blocked for a corner kick, with Girona growing in confidence.

Alisson was involved again in the opening seconds of the second half, parrying Arnaut Danjuma's shot and Liverpool struggled to break down a stubborn Girona defense before Donny van de Beek's foul on Diaz gave Salah his chance from the penalty spot.

Salah missed a penalty kick in Liverpool's last Champions League match against Real Madrid, but he did not make a mistake this time by sending the goalkeeper in the wrong direction and the ball into the bottom corner.

Girona never looked like they could find an equalizer as Liverpool maintained possession much better than in the first half and left the Estadio Montilivi with all three points.

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