Thanks to goals from Mac Allister and Gakpo, the team led by Arne Slot beat a decimated Merengue team 2-0 and achieve a perfect performance in the championship phase, after five matches. Kylian Mbappé and Mohamed Salah missed penalties.
One of the problems that explains the new competition format of the Champions League, starting this season, is that matches between big clubs can occur prematurely (and not in decisive cases). One of them happened at Anfield. Liverpool and Real Madrid Last time they faced each other in two finals and this time they met in the League Stage, repeating one of the most notable rivalries in the Old Continent.
In England, It was a clear victory for the Reds 2-0 being far superior to its linajudo rival from start to finish. Besides, the stars haven’t had much luck.
The team led by Dutchman Arne Slot is the only one to have arrived with total victories after four matches. For this reason, they had the opportunity to regain the lead with a good result at home. The White House arrives decimated, with five significant victims: Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, Rodrygo, Vinícius and Aurélien Tchouaméni. Additionally, he needed to get back on track in the Champions League as he lost two of the four games he played. The current champion and greatest winner of the European Cup is always required.
Carlo Ancelotti had to reorganize his structure by placing Federico Valverde as right back and Luka Modric as central midfielder, while Kylian Mbappé started charging towards the left then rotated in attack. The former PSG player was plagued by errors from British supporters, just like Jude Bellingham. Whether due to the lack of big names or the work of their rival, Madrid have not had a good time at Anfield.
Every time Liverpool broke through the Whites’ midfielders’ line and approached the box, it gave the impression that something big could happen. The Reds were superior in terms of possession of the ball and formation of the game. The one who had an interesting job as center forward, especially in the first half, was Darwin Núñez. The Uruguayan had a few chances to open the scoring. In the 23rd minute, he took a shot which was deflected by goalkeeper Courtois. In the 32nd minute, he did it again with a header that went just wide.
A Madrid who had no shots on goal in the first half had the Belgian Courtois as support. The resistance of the Spaniards, with an improvised defense, lasted 52 minutes. Just after another save from their goalkeeper, the English brought the score to 1-0, thanks to Alexis Mac Allister’s score. The Argentinian enters the area, combines with Bradley and fires a cross shot. It was a little more justice compared to what was happening on the ground.
Real Madrid have inexplicable things: they may play badly, they suffer in a match, but they find an open window to enter the game. In the 59th minute, a penalty was awarded to the visitors following a foul by Robertson on Lucas Vázquez. It was the perfect opportunity to equalize. Mbappé executes and fails. Goalkeeper Kelleher contains the Frenchman’s shot, diving to his left.
From possible 1-1 to possible 2-0. In the 69th minute, Liverpool were penalized for an obvious infringement by full-back Mendy against Mohamed Salah. It was up to the Egyptian to close out the victory. But he couldn’t either. The African star takes a left-footed shot and deflects it, grazing Courtois’ post. The duel was still open, more because of the minimal difference on the scoreboard, because from the start the superiority of the Reds was obvious.
Until it was 2-0. In the 76th minute, Cody Gakpo (who had replaced Uruguayan Núñez) headed home. after Robertson’s cross. Due to the way the match played out, the difference could have been bigger.
Arne Slot’s Liverpool are the only leaders in the championship phase of the Champions League, with a perfect campaign: 15 points out of 15 possible. Their second team is Inter Milan, with 13 points. He is also the leader of the Prime Minister and next Sunday he will have a train wreck when he hosts Pep Guardiola’s struggling Manchester City.
Source: Latercera
I’m Scott Moore, a professional writer and journalist based in the US. I’ve been writing for various publications for over 8 years now, and have been working as an author at athletistic for the past five years. My work has been featured by some of the leading sports websites and magazines across Europe.
