GIRONA, SPAIN - DECEMBER 10: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Players of Liverpool pose for a team photograph prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between Girona FC and Liverpool FC at Montilivi Stadium on December 10, 2024 in Girona, Spain. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
GIRONA, SPAIN - DECEMBER 10: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Players of Liverpool pose for a team photograph prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between Girona FC and Liverpool FC at Montilivi Stadium on December 10, 2024 in Girona, Spain. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Liverpool were forced to dig in as they returned to winning ways and maintained their perfect Champions League record with a grafting 1-0 win against Girona.
Mo Salah's second-half penalty proved the difference in Spain after the hosts threatened to cause an upset. Alisson Becker was back between the posts and thrust right into the action, as Girona peppered his goal for the majority for a first half which was initially dominated by Liverpool.
In the La Liga outfit's squad were a number of players who used to ply their trade in the Premier League, but they couldn't use their experience to get the better of its current leaders. The result of Tuesday's early kick-off means that Liverpool now need just one point from their next two Champions League games to confirm an automatic place in the round-of-16 - although it could be confirmed sooner.
Here are five talking points from a chilly Estadi Montilivi.
1. Liverpool's early let-off
It was utter domination from the Reds for the first 10 minutes until a marauding Daley Blind sparked Girona into life. The ex-Manchester United left-back made an underlapping run on Virgil van Dijk's blind side - no pun intended - to get on the end of a cross and had a golden opportunity to beat Alisson, who was making his returning from injury.
Blind attempted a first-time finish but got it all wrong, as the ball skewed to team-mate Bryan Gil. The Tottenham loanee's effort was saved by the legs of Alisson in what proved to be a let-off for Liverpool as opposed to going 1-0 down. Gil had another chance soon after but slipped on the turf to allow Andy Robertson to recover. The home side had flipped the flow of play.
2. Alisson sends Slot timely reminder
The best compliment you can give to Caoimhin Kelleher is that during his spell as Liverpool's No.1, Alisson's name has barely been mentioned. The big Brazilian had been out injured since the start of October and he wasn't exactly eased back into action.
Alisson pulled of a series of vital interventions throughout the first half and pulled off some superb diving saves. His finest moment came when Yaser Asprilla took aim from distance and Alisson needed all of his 6ft 4in frame to keep the ball out of his top right-hand corner.
The 32-year-old was constantly called upon as Girona imposed themselves on the game, firing off eight shots - the most in a first half of a Champions League fixture against against Liverpool this season - in an end-to-end opening 45 minutes. The Reds' only clear-cut opportunity fell to Darwin Nunez, who couldn't beat ex-Southampton goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga, much to Arne Slot's frustration as the score remained 0-0 at the break.
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3. Salah punishes clumsy Van de Beek
For all of his goals in the Premier League, 13 so far this season, Salah hasn't been quite as clinical in Europe. The Egyptian notably missed a penalty against Real Madrid last time out, leaving him on only one goal in five Champions League fixtures.
But when Donny van de Beek sent Luis Diaz tumbling with a clumsy challenge, Salah was given a chance to make it two in six. Just like his ice-cool spot-kick against Manchester City, Liverpool's No.11 slotted home and wheeled away in celebration, breaking the deadlock for the Reds on the hour mark after a controlled start to the second half. There was still a long way to go, though.
4. Nunez's woes continue
Oh, Darwin Nunez. As dangerous as he is frustrating to watch.
It's now just one goal in 10 games for Liverpool's £64million striker, who was hauled off shortly after Salah's opener in place of Cody Gakpo. There's no argument that right now, Gakpo is the Reds' first-choice striker and Nunez gave Slot nothing to change his mind with another toothless display in Girona.
Given Liverpool's blistering form, the Uruguayan doesn't need to worry about getting chances whenever he's on the pitch. But now in his third season at Anfield, it's high time that he starts taking them.
Darwin Nunez endured another frustrating night ( Image: Pedro Salado/Getty Images)
5. On the brink
In this new Champions League format, Liverpool's task is now simple. If results go their way on Tuesday or Wednesday, or the Reds earn at least draw from one their final two games - at home to Lille and away to PSV Eindhoven in January - Slot's side will qualify for the last 16 automatically by securing a place in the top eight.
The Reds would avoid a two-legged play-off in February, giving themselves two free midweeks when they could schedule Saturday's postponed Merseyside derby at Everton. It wasn't a perfect performance but they're in a perfect position.
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