Everton fail to capitalise on their man advantage for the entire second half as they are left frustrated in a goalless Premier League draw against Brentford.
RB Leipzig 0-1 Liverpool: Nunez shows his worthpublished at 22:26 23 October
22:26 23 October
Neil Johnston BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Would Darwin Nunez have started in the Champions League against RB Leipzig had Diogo Jota been fit?
Who knows but the Uruguay forward took his chance when called upon by Arne Slot in Germany.
He capped a busy performance with a goal while he also had another attempt tipped over the crossbar and should have won a penalty after being clipped by Willi Orban, the officials waving away Liverpool's strong appeals for a spot-kick.
Nunez has had to show patience under Slot who has played Jota, Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz more frequently.
His winner against RB Leipzig - a point blank range finish after Salah's header - will not win any goal of the season prizes.
But Nunez showed he remains a useful asset for Slot, with Nunez and Salah combining for 14 goals in all competitions since the beginning of the 2022-23 season.
Manchester City's Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne (21) are the only Premier League team-mates to combine for more in that period.
RB Leipzig 0-1 Liverpool - send us your thoughtspublished at 21:54 23 October
'Daunting' week but the signs 'very, very good'published at 13:27 23 October
13:27 23 October
Mike Hughes BBC Radio Merseyside reporter
Image source, PA Media
Liverpool passed their toughest test of the season so far in impressive fashion against Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday.
Even more difficult challenges are to come. Their title-chasing credentials face a rigorous examination over the next few weeks and as Arne Slot has pointed out on more than one occasion recently, we will all be able to make a more informed assessment of what they are capable of by the end of November.
One of the most potent signs of potential success for Liverpool this season was not just the excellent football, though there was a real flow and rhythm to their play. It is rare for a visiting team to have the amount of possession that Chelsea had, but Liverpool ensured goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher was only rarely called upon.
Beyond that, it was almost a "coming-of-age" performance from Curtis Jones, not just for his goal or for winning the penalty that led to Mohamed Salah opening the scoring. His efforts galvanised the team and nullified Cole Palmer, who has probably been the best player in the Premier League this season. Jones also threw himself into blocking a goalbound shot from the same player in front of the Kop when it was 0-0.
He is still not guaranteed a regular starting place, but could hardly have been more impressive.
The fixture schedule for the next week throws up three formidable tests in three different competitions, starting tonight in Germany.
RB Leipzig do not possess much in the way of Champions League pedigree, but Liverpool will pay them due respect. Slot has made the point that these relentless examinations are why it is so difficult to reach the top and stay there.
It is well within Liverpool’s capabilities to get a good result from the European game and then on Sunday, Arsenal at Emirates Stadium looks a daunting test.
Three days later it is another away game, this time at Brighton in the Carabao Cup. As Slot argues, we will learn more about this Liverpool team as we go along, but up to now at least, the signs are very, very good.
Time for Everton to look uppublished at 11:50 23 October
11:50 23 October
Ian Kennedy BBC Radio Merseyside reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Two clean sheets in a row for Everton and four games unbeaten brings a sense of momentum heading into Saturday’s home game with Fulham.
The clean sheets are particularly pleasing, especially given the absence of Jarrad Branthwaite. However, with Branthwaite out, Michael Keane was excellent alongside James Tarkowski at the back, again showing that when he gets a chance inside the opposition box, he knows how to finish.
There was also another goal for Iliman Ndiaye and his skill and pace is a huge boost.
Everton might, and should have had more goals, but any win away from home is good, and they will be hopeful of keeping the run going at the weekend. That will be provided they can keep things tight defensively, but also convert more chances at the other end. Fulham have made a steady start but have lost their last two in the league.
With a little gap opening up below them, the Blues will want to look up rather than over their shoulder, and with games coming up soon against teams around them, it could be an important early phase of the season.
Reds 'street smart' while Blues 'still look a bit green'published at 09:05 23 October
09:05 23 October
Pat Nevin Former footballer and presenter
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Liverpool v Chelsea was the most-anticipated game of the weekend, the outcome would signal who is most likely to mount a challenge to the current duopoly.
The 90 minutes probably answered the question.
Liverpool edged it in terms of quality, but they still look a step below. They have time to continue their improvement under Arne Slot and as such deserve the patience the manager has pleaded for. They should not be written off yet.
The Reds look more street smart and that makes a difference at the margins while the Blues still look a bit green, particularly at the back. That is no surprise as the first-choice centre-backs have an average age of 29 for Liverpool and a callow 22 for Chelsea.
Blues fans have been spoiled in that position as from Ricardo Carvalho and John Terry to Thiago Silva and Toni Rudiger they have got used to some of the best in the world at the core of their defence. The absence of top quality in that core area means the top table is still beyond them.
As someone openly wanting a Chelsea win but always brutally honest enough to accept when we are second best on the day, there was one player I wanted introduced more than any other - Joao Felix. Enzo Maresca made five changes when creation was needed and the Portugal playmaker was not called on.
Is there something his managers know that I do not? Because in terms of skill and creativity he clearly deserves more chances if Chelsea are going to have a chance.
Gossip: Significant January transfer business unlikely at Evertonpublished at 07:11 23 October
07:11 23 October
Everton's takeover by The Friedkin Group remains on track to be completed by December, but the new owners will not sanction significant January spending because of profit and sustainability (PSR) restrictions. (The i - subscription required), external
Slot on Jota injury, Chiesa and being 'more dominant'published at 19:22 22 October
19:22 22 October
Nicola Pearson BBC Sport journalist
Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Champions League game against RB Leipzig (kick-off 20:00).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
He confirmed that Diogo Jota, Conor Bradley, Federico Chiesa, Harvey Elliott and Alisson will all miss the game against Leipzig through injury as the team have a "few issues" at the moment.
On Jota, who went off during the match against Chelsea, Slot said: "He got a knock when trying to go to goal. It was the the other player who fell onto him and that hurt him. He couldn’t continue and couldn’t come now, so it is difficult to judge how long it will take. It is bruised, so we will have to see how long it will take."
It is "more simple" to understand why Chiesa is missing as he "missed a whole pre-season" and Slot said: "Going to a league where intensity is higher than the Italian league makes it difficult for him to make the step up to the intensity levels of the team."
He added: "It is difficult for players when games are constant to build up to the levels we are at. It is disappointing for him coming in and out of training all the time. He signed a long-term contract which is good for us, but it is difficult for him right now."
On the importance of this game to help get qualification secured as soon as possible: "I never think it is a good idea to lose the game. It is always best to get best possible result. We look game by game and bring the best possible team tomorrow to face Leipzig. The fixture list is tough but what do you expect when playing Premier League and Champions League? It is what we want, we like to deal with it and have to deal with it."
Slot does not think he can have an opinion on the new Champions League format yet but added: "If I have to say, then I would say I like it, but that is because we have six points, not because of the format."
On what he is looking for after a strong start to the season: "You can't ask for much more in results. But in what we want, there is always room for improvement. Against Chelsea, they were more dominant than us and in an ideal world we would have been. We are not there yet."
He added: "The good thing is that we face difficult teams like Chelsea and Manchester United and are fighting against teams for every moment in the game - we showed that. I am hoping in future we play games like these and we are more dominant than them."
'I am doing a dirty job' - Szoboszlaipublished at 18:57 22 October
18:57 22 October
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Dominik Szoboszlai says he is doing a "dirty job" for Liverpool and insists it is more "important" than him standing out with an improved goal return.
The 23-year-old is yet to score in the Premier League this season, despite playing in all eight fixtures. After Sunday's win over Chelsea, pockets of the fanbase criticised the midfielder for losing possession frequently, while others praised his high work-rate on a day where the Reds battled to a hard-earned victory.
This season, Szoboszlai has found himself as the most advanced of Liverpool's three midfielders.
Asked about if he was happy with his form before facing former club RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Wednesday, he said: "It can be always better so no. I can play even better. I can score more goals and do more assists. But I am doing a dirty job for the team and that is most important for me. We are top of league and if I don’t score goals that is more important.
Szoboszlai says his role has not changed markedly under Arne Slot compared to that overseen by Jurgen Klopp last season but he concedes he will keep "working" to "be in position to score more goals", adding "it takes time".
"Last year I was doing the same. It is not new," he added. "I'm going to do it all the time for my team until we succeed. Doesn’t matter for me if we don’t score and we are top of the table, that is most important."
'I wouldn't say it has really changed' - Rose on Reds' stylepublished at 17:20 22 October
17:20 22 October
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Liverpool still have "the same character" under Arne Slot as they had with former manager Jurgen Klopp, says RB Leipzig boss Marco Rose.
The German knows Klopp well having spent six seasons playing for him at Mainz.
He is set to work with him again after Klopp controversially took on a role with the owners of the Reds' next Champions League opponents Leipzig and has praised the amount he has learned from him already.
"As a coach, you can learn a lot from him. We might not always have been of the same opinion, but how he leads a group is unique, his honesty. Then it is especially about defending that I learned from him a lot," Rose told a pre-match news conference.
"He is a great personality and a great person. I loved working together with him and I'm happy that we'll work together again."
Despite keeping a close relationship, with Klopp taking a break in Mallorca before starting his new job, Rose has not been asking him for tips on beating Liverpool on Wednesday night.
New Reds boss Slot has tweaked things since his arrival, but the Leipzig coach still sees similarities in the side to that of his old boss.
"I wouldn't say it has really changed," Rose added. "The game of Liverpool is very intense. Still Liverpool are very strong in pressing situations, they defend very well, it is an intense game. They are a very robust team, physically strong on and off the ball.
"It is the same character Liverpool had under Klopp, very dominant like in the old days.
"Slot does it in his own way of course with some different mechanisms but everything is clear. They are uncomfortable to defend against with high quality, a lot of vertical play, and a lot of possession."
Diogo Jota was not seen during Liverpool's open training session on Tuesday.
The forward suffered an apparent rib injury during the 2-1 win over Chelsea on Sunday.
In his post-match news conference, manager Arne Slot said: “I’m not sure what it is but I would be surprised if he’s there on Wednesday.”
Defender Conor Bradley and summer signing Federico Chiesa were also not part of Tuesday's training while goalkeeper Alisson Becker and midfielder Harvey Elliot were also absent as they recover from their longer term injuries.
Despite this, the Liverpool squad looked in great spirits as they prepare for Wednesday's Champions League match against RB Leipzig.
Image source, Getty Images
