Liverpool is now within reach of securing direct qualification to the Champions League Round of 16 after a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Girona on Tuesday evening in the sixth round of the UCL group stage.
Mohamed Salah secured the match’s sole goal with a precise penalty in the 61st minute.
This win boosted Liverpool’s total to 18 points, maintaining a perfect record with six consecutive victories, while Girona remained at 3 points, ranking 30th among the 36 teams.
Liverpool started the match on the front foot, creating an early threat in the 5th minute when defender Joe Gomez connected with a corner kick, forcing Gazzaniga to make a fingertip save.
In the 7th minute, Darwin Núñez found himself in Girona’s penalty area, but the home team’s goalkeeper intervened decisively to block his path. Girona’s first real chance came in the 12th minute when Daley Blind missed an opportunity to convert Gutierrez’s cross, allowing Francis’ attempt to be stopped by Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker, making his return from injury.
The game’s tempo slowed during the second quarter of the first half. Still, Girona’s Danjuma reignited the excitement in the 31st minute with a deflected shot off Gomez, resulting in a corner that yielded no results. Alisson showcased his reflexes again in the 38th minute, acrobatically saving a long-range effort from Espria.
As the half neared its conclusion, Danjuma once again troubled Liverpool’s defence, sending a shot wide in the 41st minute. The first half ended with neither side finding the back of the net.
The second half began with intensity. Alisson denied Danjuma yet again, while Gazzaniga made a crucial save in the 59th minute to stop Andy Robertson’s close-range attempt. Moments later, Liverpool was awarded a penalty via VAR after Luis Díaz was fouled by Donny van de Beek. Mohamed Salah confidently converted the penalty in the 61st minute, giving Liverpool the lead.
Cody Gakpo replaced Núñez in Liverpool’s lineup, while Girona introduced several substitutes, including Uruguayan striker Cristhian Stuani.
The game settled into a quieter rhythm in the final 15 minutes. Liverpool had a chance to extend their lead in the 83rd minute, with Trent Alexander-Arnold delivering a free kick that Gazzaniga successfully blocked. The remaining minutes passed uneventfully, and Liverpool secured a 1-0 victory.
