In what was a heavyweight Champions League showdown on Wednesday evening, Liverpool collected a well-known European scalp as they claimed a deserved 2-0 win in opposition to defending champions Actual Madrid.
Whereas Arne Slot’s males might need beforehand held a nightmare report in opposition to Los Blancos having didn’t win any of their earlier eight conferences, Liverpool put in a dominant show right here and have been a greater than worthy winner at Anfield.
Dominating on both facet of the half-time break, former Brighton ace Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring after 52 minutes because of a slick low end previous Thibaut Courtois.
In a sport the place the 2 superstars, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Actual’s Kylian Mbappe, failed from the penalty spot, the Reds doubled their lead within the last quarter-hour as Dutch worldwide Cody Gakpo headed residence.
Laying down what was a sensational marker in midweek, Liverpool have now received every of their 5 Champions League appearances and are the one membership that may boast a 100% report.
As for the defending champions, enduring what has instantly turn into a public Champions League wrestle, Los Blancos have misplaced every of their final three group stage appearances they usually have come underneath loads of latest scrutiny.
On an evening when Slot’s facet collected a heavyweight European scalp, now we have taken a have a look at the principle speaking factors from Anfield.
Liverpool are the main European contender
Whereas followers round Anfield might need been heartbroken over the summer time following Jurgen Klopp’s departure, Liverpool have solely launched into a sensational rise since Slot’s arrival within the purple half of Merseyside.
Marking their return from November’s worldwide break with a second-half comeback away at Southampton as they left St. Mary’s with a 3-2 victory, Wednesday’s hosts maintain a commanding eight-point buffer on the high of the Premier League desk.
Firing on all cylinders since opening up the brand new marketing campaign and with the temper round Anfield at a red-hot excessive, Liverpool have rightfully acquired a string of plaudits from throughout the globe.
Now successful every of their first 5 straight Champions League showdowns thus far this season and the one membership that may boast a 100% begin to proceedings, the midweek hosts are instantly pencilled in as a number one European contender.
Struggling only a single defeat throughout any competitors since opening up the brand new marketing campaign and in addition successful their final six straight matchups throughout all competitions, Liverpool are driving a well-known wave of momentum.
The Reds at their scientific greatest
Whereas Liverpool might need solely conceded a single strike of their 5 Champions League appearances thus far this season, the Reds have actually gained a popularity for his or her free-scoring performances within the last third.
Mounting that sensational second-half comeback at St. Mary’s final weekend as they marked their return from November’s worldwide break with a 3-2 victory in opposition to Southampton, Liverpool’s assault are probably the most in kind throughout Europe.
Laying down one other Champions League marker earlier within the month as they stormed their strategy to a 4-0 romp in opposition to Bayer Leverkusen, Slot’s facet have recorded 12 objectives of their 5 5 European showdowns.
Heading into November’s worldwide break with a 2-0 win in opposition to Aston Villa, Liverpool additionally maintain the best-attacking tally within the Premier League thus far this season.
Holding an eight-point buffer on the high of the Premier League desk, the Reds might be trying to accumulate one other heavyweight scalp this weekend once they welcome Manchester Metropolis to Anfield on Sunday afternoon.
One other European nightmare for Los Blancos
Storming their strategy to a record-breaking fifteenth European crown final season as they accomplished a well-known double-winning marketing campaign, Actual Madrid opened up the brand new marketing campaign with loads of expectations on their shoulders.
Nevertheless, nonetheless sat 4 factors adrift of arch-rivals Barcelona on this season’s La Liga title chase, Carlo Ancelotti’s males have continued to point out some actual inconsistencies this season they usually have loads of questions that also want answering.
Together with an notorious 1-0 loss away at French outfit Lille final month, Actual Madrid have misplaced every of their earlier three teams stage appearances by an combination rating of 6-1.
Actually, that is the primary time of their illustrious historical past that the defending European champions have misplaced three group stage showdowns.
With England worldwide Jude Bellingham admitting following Wednesday’s 2-0 loss at Anfield that Liverpool have been merely the higher facet, Madrid remarkably now sit manner down in twenty fourth positions.
Match Report
Liverpool: Kelleher, Bradley, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson, Jones, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Salah, Nunez, Diaz
Subs: Gakpo, Gomez, Szoboszlai
Actual Madrid: Courtois, Valverde, Raul, Rudiger, Mendy, Camavinga, Modric, Guler, Bellingham, Diaz, Mbappe
Subs: Ceballos, Endrick, Garcia, Vazquez
Targets: Mac Allister (52’), Gakpo (76’)
Yellow Playing cards: Liverpool: Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Nunez – Actual Madrid: Raul, Mendy, Endrick, Ceballos
Pink Playing cards: N/A
Referee: Francois Letexier