How the national media reacted to Liverpool's 1-0 victory over Girona in the Champions League on Tuesday evening
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Liverpool head coach Arne Slot
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot(Image: Alex Caparros - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Another day, another win. Liverpool made it six out of six in the Champions League to move to the brink of qualification for the last 16 with a 1-0 triumph at Girona on Tuesday evening.
Mohamed Salah's penalty shortly after the hour was enough as saves from the returning Alisson Becker ensured the Reds secured a 19th win in 22 games under new head coach Arne Slot this season.
It made for a notable occasion in Spain. And here's how the national media viewed a hugely significant result for Slot's side.
READ MORE: What 492 Liverpool supporters did in Girona speaks volumes about Arne Slot decisionREAD MORE: Darwin Nunez outcome becoming inevitable as UEFA decision underlines Liverpool change
The Telegraph's Chris Bascombe, formerly of this parish, made note of a welcome trait of the Liverpool head coach.
"It’s doubtful anyone in Liverpool ever walked into a dressing room saying: ‘We wanted Winston Churchill’. No matter, they may have their own Dutch version of him anyway," he says.
"Among his many qualities, Arne Slot evidently knows how to deliver a half-time rally cry. While securing victory in Girona to guarantee qualification to the Champions League round of 16, Liverpool continued their happy knack of improving with time.
"Twenty of the past 24 Liverpool goals have arrived in the second half – most after the 60th minute – which depending on your point of view means they are worryingly slow starters or love a big finish."
Writing in the Independent, Richard Jolly was among those who centred on Liverpool's goalkeeper situation.
"The big screen in the corner of the quaint Estadi Montilivi displayed some pre-match entertainment," he scribes. "For Liverpool’s reserve goalkeeper, anyway. Caoimhin Kelleher’s penalty save from Kylian Mbappe appeared about 20 minutes before kick-off. It may be the highlight of the Irishman’s career. It was certainly the highlight of his night.
"What followed was an illustration of why Kelleher may be the best second-choice goalkeeper in football. Alisson’s return to the team was both foretold by Arne Slot’s stance of maintaining that, no matter how many saves Kelleher made, the Brazilian remained his first choice, and a major decision. In keeping with Slot’s start to life at Anfield, he got it right.
"After two months out and 11 games on the sidelines, Alisson was parachuted straight back in. His excellence in Girona preserved Liverpool’s immaculate start to Champions League football under Slot and underlined the logic behind the pecking order. Kelleher is terrific but Alisson is Alisson, the man Liverpool made the most expensive goalkeeper ever and the man who, in turn, made Liverpool Champions League winners."
Ian Hawkey in The Times also highlighted the importance of Alisson on the evening.
"Liverpool’s problem-solver, once Joe Gomez and Darwin Nunez had had their early efforts saved and Girona had shaken off their early deference, would be Alisson, back in the line-up after two months recovering from a hamstring injury," he pens.
"There would be a wide portfolio of saves — reminders of Alisson’s many strengths. Alisson the bold made himself extra big to close down Bryan Gil in a one-on-one duel, Gil having lost some advantage with a momentary slip. Alisson the athletic stretched and leapt to his right to palm away a Yaser Asprilla drive.
"Alisson the improviser deflected a swerving Miguel Gutierrez effort with his fist. Alisson the alert plucked a cross confidently from the sky and, in the same movement with no pause at all, launched a Liverpool counterattack. Gratifyingly for Slot, Alisson the intrepid made one very rapid rush off his goalline without feeling any strain at the back of his calf."
Lewis Steele in the Daily Mail, though, hints that Liverpool wouldn't be anywhere near the team they are without a different player.
"You need not be a fortune teller to predict the protagonist," he tippy-taps. "As it always seems to be, Mohamed Salah was the man with the golden keys to turn a draw into victory, taking his goal tally for the season up to 16 and registering his 50th Champions League strike in the process.
"The next goal he nets will have more historic meaning, though, as the Egyptian will match the great Billy Liddell's tally for the club and overtake the flying Scotsman on the all-time list into fourth. Born in 1922, Liddell was so good that the team was nicknamed 'Liddellpool' at the time.
"Salahpool does not have the same ring to it but it feels just as appropriate, with Liverpool's No 11 contributing to 57 per cent of their goals in all competitions and 75 per cent in the league. To be blunt, without him where would they be?"