This article is part of Football FanCast's In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets... 

At times it looked like it would be a difficult night for Liverpool, but in the end, they got the job done.

In a match in which they needed at least a draw, they beat RB Salzburg 2-0. By picking up all three points, they put themselves top of the group, meaning that they will be amongst the top seeds going into the next round. After the break, in particular, the Reds were able to limit the attacking threat of their opponents following a first 45 minutes during which they faced six shots on target.

The goals were scored by Naby Keita and Mohamed Salah. Both have now bagged in the last two matches, but the latter should have had an awful lot more.

A lot about the Egypt international's play was positive. He made two key passes, for example, whilst he also won three out of the six duels he took part in. On top of that, he lost possession of the ball on just seven occasions, which was actually the least of any Liverpool starter.

In front of goal for most of the 90 minutes, though, he struggled. All in all, he had nine efforts at goal - three on target, five off and one blocked. It started off with an attempt from inside the box which was well saved by Cican Stankovic in the Salzburg goal. He then had another effort from the same sort of area, but he somehow contrived to put it well past the target. A blazed free-kick followed that, whilst another shot went well over the bar.

Many players would have been scared to continue striking at goal, but not the 27-year-old. Within 100 seconds of Keita's opener, £135m-valued Salah - as per Transfermarkt - scored from what seemed an impossible angle, scarcely believable considering the far easier chances he had missed previously. In this case, his perseverance paid off.

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There has been talk about Liverpool's mentality monsters, and Salah's display was another example of that. It takes a strong team and incredible self-belief to carry on when things haven't gone your way, just like the former Chelsea man did here. Whilst Jurgen Klopp will be hoping that his winger is more clinical in future matches, he will be pleased with the way he performed here.

In other news, this 34-year-old has said he almost signed for Liverpool before moving to Manchester United.