<p>Liverpool seized the initiative against RB Leipzig in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash by cruising to a 2-0 win in a chilly Budapest on Tuesday.</p>.<p>Clinical early second-half strikes from Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, both courtesy of dreadful defensive errors, proved decisive and leave the German side facing a formidable task in the return leg at Anfield on March 10.</p>.<p>The win moves Jurgen Klopp's men to the brink of the Champions League quarter-finals and also ends a run of three straight defeats that has left the English champions 13 points behind leaders Manchester City in the Premier League.</p>.<p>The first leg was moved from Leipzig to the Hungarian capital due to Germany's strict Covid-19 travel restrictions.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/mbappe-hat-trick-stuns-barca-to-put-psg-in-sight-of-quarter-finals-952111.html">Mbappe hat-trick stuns Barca to put PSG in sight of quarter-finals</a></strong></p>.<p>Despite the enforced move, Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann's side started briskly and almost went ahead on four minutes.</p>.<p>Marauding left-back Angelino teed up fellow Spaniard Dani Olmo for a close-range diving header past Alisson but the effort only rattled the post.</p>.<p>Soon after Angelino again exploited space on the left but his left-footed volley skewed harmlessly across the goalmouth.</p>.<p>But it was Liverpool, attempting to reverse their slump and badly in need of a Champions League lift, who gradually created more chances, often benefitting from loose defending.</p>.<p>First, Salah, busy throughout, forced a block from Leipzig's Hungarian goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi on the quarter hour.</p>.<p>Ten minutes later Mane, outjumping Nordi Mukiele, headed a Firmino cross just over after the Brazilian striker and Salah had combined well on the right.</p>.<p>Shortly before half-time, Andy Robertson shaved the crossbar when his lob from distance almost caught out the Budapest-born Gulacsi dashing back after making a clearance outside his box.</p>.<p>Although Leipzig perked up on the restart with Alisson Becker saving from Christopher Nkunku, the German side, were made to pay for two calamitous mistakes early in the second half.</p>.<p>In the 53rd minute, Salah pounced on a sloppy back-pass by Austrian midfielder Marcel Sabitzer and ran unchallenged to smoothly slot past Gulacsi.</p>.<p>Five minutes later, Mane doubled Liverpool's lead in similar fashion, smartly finishing after Mukiele had scuffed a clearance.</p>.<p>With Swedish playmaker Emil Forsberg sidelined by a knee injury and lacking a talismanic goalscorer, Leipzig looked unlikely to pull one back.</p>.<p>Instead, Liverpool cruised to victory, keeping alive their hopes of silverware via Champions League glory this season.</p>
<p>Liverpool seized the initiative against RB Leipzig in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash by cruising to a 2-0 win in a chilly Budapest on Tuesday.</p>.<p>Clinical early second-half strikes from Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, both courtesy of dreadful defensive errors, proved decisive and leave the German side facing a formidable task in the return leg at Anfield on March 10.</p>.<p>The win moves Jurgen Klopp's men to the brink of the Champions League quarter-finals and also ends a run of three straight defeats that has left the English champions 13 points behind leaders Manchester City in the Premier League.</p>.<p>The first leg was moved from Leipzig to the Hungarian capital due to Germany's strict Covid-19 travel restrictions.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/mbappe-hat-trick-stuns-barca-to-put-psg-in-sight-of-quarter-finals-952111.html">Mbappe hat-trick stuns Barca to put PSG in sight of quarter-finals</a></strong></p>.<p>Despite the enforced move, Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann's side started briskly and almost went ahead on four minutes.</p>.<p>Marauding left-back Angelino teed up fellow Spaniard Dani Olmo for a close-range diving header past Alisson but the effort only rattled the post.</p>.<p>Soon after Angelino again exploited space on the left but his left-footed volley skewed harmlessly across the goalmouth.</p>.<p>But it was Liverpool, attempting to reverse their slump and badly in need of a Champions League lift, who gradually created more chances, often benefitting from loose defending.</p>.<p>First, Salah, busy throughout, forced a block from Leipzig's Hungarian goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi on the quarter hour.</p>.<p>Ten minutes later Mane, outjumping Nordi Mukiele, headed a Firmino cross just over after the Brazilian striker and Salah had combined well on the right.</p>.<p>Shortly before half-time, Andy Robertson shaved the crossbar when his lob from distance almost caught out the Budapest-born Gulacsi dashing back after making a clearance outside his box.</p>.<p>Although Leipzig perked up on the restart with Alisson Becker saving from Christopher Nkunku, the German side, were made to pay for two calamitous mistakes early in the second half.</p>.<p>In the 53rd minute, Salah pounced on a sloppy back-pass by Austrian midfielder Marcel Sabitzer and ran unchallenged to smoothly slot past Gulacsi.</p>.<p>Five minutes later, Mane doubled Liverpool's lead in similar fashion, smartly finishing after Mukiele had scuffed a clearance.</p>.<p>With Swedish playmaker Emil Forsberg sidelined by a knee injury and lacking a talismanic goalscorer, Leipzig looked unlikely to pull one back.</p>.<p>Instead, Liverpool cruised to victory, keeping alive their hopes of silverware via Champions League glory this season.</p>