Girona v Liverpool LIVE: Champions League result and reaction as ...

The mathematics of a complicated competition may remain unclear but one element is apparent. Liverpool will skip the Champions League’s inaugural knock-out play-off round and head straight for the last 16. They in effect booked their place, and a top-eight finish in the group stages, on a night decided by two men who won them the competition in 2019.

Mohamed Salah scored a penalty, as he did in the final then. Alisson Becker saved plenty of shots, as he did on that Madrid night. Now Liverpool have a Spanish double in a couple of weeks, even if Girona acquitted themselves better than Real Madrid did at Anfield. Now Arne Slot has 19 wins in 22 games with Liverpool, a clean sweep of six in Europe for six-time European champions. They have made light work of a difficult draw.

Such are the peculiarities of the format that their reward will be fewer games. Liverpool should now have a midweek off in February, a few days before they visit Manchester City, who could be in the play-off round. That may be the ultimate reward for victory.

Arne Slot has heaped praise on Girona after last season’s La Liga overachievers gave Liverpool a scare this evening.

However, as the Reds rejoice at the top of the table, tonight’s result could spell the end of Girona’s Champions League dreams, with Slot’s side inflicting a fifth defeat in six on their Spanish opposition.

“I can only be positive about Girona,” said Slot.

“This team can cause you a lot of problems. I almost feel sorry for them as they deserve so much more.”

Alisson wasn’t exactly eased back into action on his long-awaited return from injury.

After two months on the sidelines, Liverpool’s resident number one immediately proved his worth, making numerous crucial stops to keep Girona out in the first-half and prevent his side from falling behind.

Some questioned the decision to immediately relegate Caoimhin Kelleher to the bench upon Alisson’s return to fitness, but it’s safe to say Slot’s call was vindicated.

And in response to his performance, Slot opted to reinforce what fans already knew: “We have an incredible goalkeeper.”

While delighted to extending their 100 per cent record in the Champions League, Arne Slot has lamented his side’s lack of intensity against Girona.

“If you ask me about all the six games, I’m really pleased with all the results,” he said. “I’m really pleased with the first five games, but I’m far from pleased about the performance tonight.

“Every time we lost the ball, we were not aggressive enough. We had hardly any control at all over the game.”

While the result is all that matters, it wasn’t the perfect night for Liverpool - especially in the case of Darwin Nunez.

The Uruguayan endured yet another frustrating night in front of goal, squandering chance after chance on his way to yet another blank next to his name.

He trudged off sulking on 70 minutes to as tepid applause sounded from the away end.

The man’s form goes through peaks and troughs - and currently, all confidence is absent from Nunez’s game.

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has pegged Liverpool as the current favourites to win the Champions League - but is insistent that the club must not get complacent in their quest for glory.

“Form-wise right now, yes, Liverpool have to be favourites but nothing is handed out at this stage,” he told TNT Sports.

“Form-wise, come March and April time it could be very different to now. You have to be a bit patient.

“Liverpool definitely have the make up and all the markings of a team that can be very successful this season. They just need to ensure they have the form physically and mentally at the back end of the season.”

Seeing Mohamed Salah reach new goalscoring heights in Liverpool colours is a common occurrence - but with his contract still up in the air, could this be one of his final milestones on Merseyside?

Reds legend Steve McManaman has hailed his former side’s grit to come out of tonight’s contest with all three points - a result that now surely confirms their place in the last 16.

“Any European night is difficult and Liverpool have made it look easy,” he told TNT Sports.

“All in all, Arne Slot can do what he wants in the last couple of games now. The hard work has been done.

“I thought Slot’s transition would be seamless but I have been surprised by the results. To go away and beat Bayer Leverkusen and other teams then beat them comfortably, that has been surprising.”

Liverpool make it six wins out of six in the Champions League as Arne Slot’s side overcome a resilient Girona to claim victory.

It was Mohamed Salah who once again proved the difference, calmly converting his penalty near the hour mark to break the deadlock.

After a frenetic first-half which saw both sides come close to finding the net, Liverpool put on yet another second-half clinic to further strengthen their hold at the top of the Champions League table.