By JAMES ROBSON AP Soccer Writer
Mohamed Salah’s 50th Champions League goal maintained Liverpool’s perfect record in the competition this season with a 1-0 win over Girona on Tuesday.
The Egypt forward struck a 63rd minute penalty to seal the win in Spain that kept Liverpool atop the revamped 36-team league stage.
But even after a sixth straight win for the Merseyside club, head coach Arne Slot was critical of his players in a game that saw goalkeeper Alisson pull off several saves to keep Girona out.
“If you ask me about all the six games, I’m really pleased with all the results, I am really pleased with the five (other) games with the way we played. I’m far from pleased about the performance tonight,” he said.
Salah’s goal was his 16th in 22 appearances overall this season.
Girona was 30th with just one win from six games.
“I almost feel sorry for them because they deserved so much more in this Champions League campaign than the three points they have until now. But we have an incredible goalkeeper,” Slot said.
Even after Slot’s criticism, Liverpool continued its outstanding start to the campaign, which also led it the top of the Premier League.
Former Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek handed Salah the chance to fire the visitors ahead with a clumsy tackle from behind on Luis Diaz in the box. Salah stepped up to convert the penalty and Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga went the wrong way.
Liverpool’s two remaining games are against Lille at home and PSV Eindhoven away in January.
U.S. international Christian Pulisic is the only player to have scored against Liverpool in this season’s Champions League in a 3-1 loss for Milan in September.
Six-time European Cup winner Liverpool is looking like the team to beat in the Champions League this season after big wins against holder Real Madrid and German champion Bayer Leverkusen last month.
Dinamo Zagreb drew 0-0 with Celtic and both teams remain in the playoff positions.
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James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer