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Champions League leaders Liverpool have made it six wins from six with a tight 1-0 win at Spanish club Girona after a controversial VAR call – but manager Arne Slot was far from impressed.
Mohamed Salah’s penalty on the hour made the difference after the hosts had dominated the first half. Girona stay 30th and currently out of last-16 contention in the mammoth new table after five defeats and one win.
Dinamo Zagreb drew 0-0 with Celtic in the other early kick-off as both sides stayed in the unseeded play-off spots.
Top dogs Liverpool had already wrapped up a last-16 play-off place and with just two matchdays remaining, the Reds could qualify this week as a top-eight finisher if results go their way on Tuesday and Wednesday.
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The Reds were on the back foot in the first half at the modest Estadi Montilivi, Bryan Gil slipping at a key moment and veteran Dutch defender Daley Blind also going close as Liverpool keeper Alisson – returning from injury – was constantly busy.
Darwin Nunez then had a couple of Liverpool chances before half-time.
Girona, in their first Champions League season, have become a force in Spain thanks to the backing of the City Football Group which also owns Manchester City and other sides globally.
But the Catalans paid the price for not scoring while on top when Donny van de Beek was adjudged to have fouled Luis Diaz in the box as the Colombian lost his boot.
A VAR review led to the spot-kick and Salah, looking closer to signing a new Liverpool deal having appeared to be in his last season, converted with aplomb.
“If you ask me about all the six games, I’m really pleased with all the results,” said manager Slot. “I’m really pleased with the first five games, but I’m far from pleased about the performance. What wasn’t I pleased about? I wasn’t pleased with a lot. Especially two things.
“If you play against a team that has such a good idea about football and knows how to bring the ball out from the back, you need to be so intense if you want to make it difficult for them. “But if you are waiting a few seconds to press them then this team can cause you a lot of problems.
“They showed in their games, except PSV, in the Champions League this season. I almost feel sorry for them as they deserve so much more. We had hardly any control at all over the game. Maybe the second half was a bit better – I’m trying to be positive.”
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