Naby Keita's headed opener was followed by a brilliant finish by Mohamed Salah within two minutes to give Liverpool the passage into the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League.

The Reds needed a draw at the Red Bull Arena to determine whom they will face in the round of 16 on Monday’s draw. Naby Keita was the unexpected inclusion in midfield for Liverpool's final Champions League group match against Red Bull Salzburg in Austria.

The Guinea international, who impressed in the starting line-up against Bournemouth on Saturday, was one of three changes from the weekend.

Georginio Wijnaldum returned from injury from the weekend with Sadio Mane back after being rested against the Cherries.

Salzburg begun the game by pressing the Reds at their half, which almost resulted into an early goal if not another timely interception from Van Dijk to thwart a second early opening for the hosts.

The Dutch defender earlier raced with Van Dijk. However, Van Dijk used his superior pace to get ahead of Haaland to win the ball back for his side.

Salah was played in on goal in the 5-minute and he drove the ball towards the bottom corner with his right foot, but Stankovic stuck out a boot to make a crucial block to keep the scores level. Liverpool balanced the game and Mane kept threatening the home side with his pace.

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The Senegalese slipped the ball through for Robertson on the overlap and the left back wrapped his foot around the ball to cut it back to the edge of the Salzburg six-yard box. However, Wober was well positioned to hook the ball clear for his side.

More pressure was presented to the Reds but a combat defense marshalled by Van Dijk and Lovren kept the homesters busy to find a way.

The second half saw the game continue at where it ended in the first 45 minutes. The Reds were forced to make a change as Lovren picked up an injury and was replaced by Gomez in the 550minute. Two minutes later Naby Keita gave the Reds the opener, assisted by Mane.

Sadio got in behind the home defence and the goalkeeper rushed off his line in an attempted to meet the ball. However, he was never going to get there and Mane clipped the ball over him and into the penalty area for Keita, who headed home from 10 yards.

A minute later, Incredible Salah latched onto a hopeful ball from Henderson. The goalkeeper needlessly raced off his line and Salah easily took it past him.

However, his touch forced him wide and he still had it all to do from the tightest of angles.

It was no problem for Salah though, who threaded the ball through the eye of the needle to find the far corner with an inch-perfect finish with his right foot.

Liverpool were fully in control of the game and held onto the two-goal lead till the end.