Liverpool, England — Liverpool Maintained his excellent start for UEFA Champions League with the A 2-0 win against Real Madrid on Wednesday which puts the reigning European champions in danger of missing out on qualification for the knockout stages.
Second half goals from Alexis McAllister And Cody Gakpo It sealed Liverpool’s fifth consecutive Champions League victory at Anfield and moved Arne Slott’s side two points clear at the top of the table. It was the first win against the Reds. Los Blancos In the Champions League, from 3 March 2009, an eight-game winless streak against the Spanish capital club ended (a stretch that included seven defeats).
But Real, against whom they won the Champions League for a record 15th time. Borussia Dortmund Last season at Wembley, they have lost three of five games so far and sit in 24th position — the final qualifying spot for February’s play-off stage.
Kylian Mbappe Madrid had a chance to equalize when a penalty was saved by the Liverpool keeper Caoimhín Kelleher While the score line for the home side was 1-0. The penalty drama also affected Liverpool. Muhammad Salah Sending his spot kick on 70 minutes.
The real one is facing a difficult journey now. UEFA Europa League Champions Atlanta on Matchday 6 next month as they look to kick-start their hopes of qualifying for the next stage of the competition. — Mark Ogden
Both Mbappé and Salah are missed. Mbappé is expensive
No one would have been happier to see Salah touch a second-half penalty at Anfield than Mbappé, who saw his own spot-kick saved nine minutes earlier. Salah’s absence took at least some light from Mbappé after a truly disastrous evening for the Madrid forward.
It was France After a shaky start to life at the Bernabeu, the international’s biggest chance to impress in a Madrid shirt. Instead, it had its season so far in microcosm. In 90 minutes, Mbappé only had two shots, one on target, and that was a penalty. He attempted only 22 passes. Ferland Mindy There were fewer — completing 16.
A penalty goal could have turned his night around, and put Madrid back in the game at 1-1. Instead, Mbappé fluffed his lines. His performance will be scrutinized in the Madrid media on Thursday, and the fans’ patience will not last forever.
Salah’s memory was less expensive – even if it was a worse effort – and will soon be forgotten as Liverpool win. But that wasn’t what he needed for the week. He admitted he was “more out of it” at Anfield.After not receiving a new contract offer.
Salah is a Liverpool legend, though, and his side are flying domestically and in Europe. Mbappé is just getting started in Madrid, and with three defeats in five, their Champions League campaign is already spiraling out of control. — Alex Kirkland
Kelleher lives up to the nickname given to him by Klopp.
If Kelleher’s Liverpool career to date can be summed up for a moment, his brilliant penalty to deny Mbappé might be saved.
Jurgen Klopp, once dubbed “the best No. 2 in the world” and who watched much of the evening against Madrid, once again lived up to his title, becoming the first goalkeeper to stop a Frenchman in the Champions League. Removed from the spot and laid the groundwork for Liverpool to secure a famous win over their European foes.
Honestly, Kelleher can no longer be called “No. 2.” He has done more than that for Liverpool. Allison Baker in 2024, due to the Brazilian’s ongoing struggles with a hamstring problem.
Once again on Wednesday night, he didn’t let the slot side down, making a handful of late saves to preserve the hosts’ clean sheet. During the upcoming arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia While this certainly means Kelleher’s long-term future is away from Anfield, his enduring glory in Alisson’s absence means that if, or when, he does leave, he will become something of a cult hero. will do — Beth Lindop
Bradley Alexander-Arnold looks to the future.
Trent Alexander Arnold Sitting on the Liverpool substitutes’ bench could be an uncomfortable glimpse of the future as his teammates beat Real Madrid.
On one side, Liverpool’s full-back will be seen. Conor Bradley Perform brilliantly at right-back and show they are capable of keeping Alexander-Arnold out of the team once he is fully fit. And with endless speculation linking Alexander-Arnold with a free agent move to Real next summer, if he fails to sign a new deal at Anfield, the 26-year-old may just have learned that. The La Liga giants are just one team short of six. Months after winning the Champions League and a move to the Santiago Bernabeu may not be the dream it once seemed.
But the night was really about Bradley, the impressive 21-year-old who was superb against Real.
The Northern Ireland international set the tone in the first half with a crunching tackle on Mbappé that drew huge cheers from The Kop. Bradley produced a rock-solid performance at full-back, as well as a threat going forward.
Bradley was only denied a goal when Thibaut Courtois Produced a world class save to keep out his second half header from close range.
If Liverpool are worried about losing Alexander-Arnold, they really shouldn’t be. — Ogden
Bellingham feels Enfield’s wrath.
Jude Bellingham When he gave an outspoken news conference before the game He spoke of being called a “scapegoat”. After EnglandFailure to win Euro 2024 He also dismissed speculation that he almost joined Liverpool before agreeing a deal with Real Madrid in 2023 as Real were at a “different level”.
Bellingham’s comments about Liverpool led to him being cheered by the Anfield crowd every time he touched the ball. It seemed to have affected his performance as the 21-year-old was poor against Slott’s side.
Liverpool midfielder McAllister and Ryan Gravenbruch Bellingham dominated both physical challenges and the ball, and spent much of the game struggling to make an impact.
In Bellingham’s defense, he was playing a deeper role than he usually enjoys. Carlo Ancelotti deployed him on the left side of midfield behind Mbappé’s front three. Brahim Diaz And Arda Guler.
Just like with England at Euro 2024, though, when the game passes Bellingham, he offers little and his frustration becomes palpable. This game was another example, and it couldn’t have come at a worse time as Bellingham complained about his treatment after the Euros.
When it comes to misjudging or roughing a player, the best way to prove a point is usually to do it on the pitch. At Anfield, he was left behind by two Liverpool recruits after pulling out of the race to sign him 18 months ago. — Ogden