Tuesday evening saw Liverpool progress to the last 16 of the Champions League yet again. The Reds took on the Austrian title holders in the home of Mozart, beating the local leaders 2-0 in a thrilling, high octane encounter. Despite the impressive attacking display from Jürgen Klopp’s men, it was the other end of the pitch that was even more impressive. Liverpool keeping a clean sheet against RB Salzburg shows that it was one of our best performances of the season.
Virgil van Dijk was on song last night as Liverpool kept an impressive clean sheet against RB Salzburg. (Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images)
The Austrians had lost just three games at home in two years. Going into the game Jesse Marsch’s side had scored in every single match they had played in this season; netting 87 goals in 24 games prior to playing the Reds on Tuesday.
The Reds on the other hand have found clean sheets hard to come by. Shutting out Bournemouth at the weekend was the first clean sheet in 14 games for the European Champions. For Jürgen Klopp’s men to travel to Austria and keep the opposition out is phenomenal.
Virgil van Dijk managed to keep the record breaking Erling Håland from breaking even more records. The Norwegian had the opportunity to become the first player to score in each of his first six games in the Champions League. The 19-year-old has scored 16 goals in 11 domestic league starts. He netted at Anfield in October, keeping him quiet was a tremendous achievement.
Heading into the most manic period in the club’s recent history this is a fantastic result. Clean sheets have been our one struggle this season, to be banishing this problem now will be a massive morale boost for the squad.