Liverpool needed a second-half penalty from Mo Salah to overcome a tough night in Spain and keep up their 100% record in the Champions League.
Salah stroked in his 16th goal after the season when Luis Diaz was fouled in the area and the single strike proved enough to see off Girona.
Liverpool have won six out of six and opened up a five-point gap at the top of the table before the night’s later matches.
Salah has scored in four successive away starts for Liverpool and once again proved to be the difference maker.
Victory on MD6 ✊🟢 #UCL pic.twitter.com/xb9fNz3HH3
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 10, 2024
Alisson returns in style
Defender Joe Gomez was denied his first goal for Liverpool by a reaction save from Paulo Gazzaniga from a close-range header, with the keeper also saving a shot from Darwin Nunez minutes later.
Girona, with every player behind the ball, were happy to break on the counter-attack and Liverpool keeper Alisson, making his first appearance since early October after a hamstring injury, was soon called into action.
Daley Blind completely missed a cross on the edge of the six-yard box but the ball fell to Alejandro Frances and Alisson held his effort at the second attempt, and later punched away a shot from Miguel Gutierrez.
Nunez had another effort saved when put through by Salah and Girona responded with a shot from outside the area by Yaser Asprilla which Alisson parried away for a corner, with Girona growing in confidence.
Alisson was again involved in the opening seconds of the second half, saving from Arnaut Danjuma and Liverpool struggled to break down a stubborn Girona defence before a Donny van de Beek foul on Diaz gave Salah his chance from the spot.
Salah missed a penalty in Liverpool’s last Champions League game against Real Madrid, but made no mistake this time sending the keeper the wrong way and the ball into the bottom corner.
Girona never really looked like finding an equaliser with Liverpool maintaining possession much better than in the opening half and leaving the Estadi Montilivi with all three points.
