In a pulsating night of UEFA Champions League football, Liverpool maintained their perfect start to the campaign with a commanding 2-0 victory over reigning champions Real Madrid at Anfield. The result leaves Carlo Ancelotti’s side in real danger of failing to qualify for the knockout stages.
Second half goals from midfielders Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo sealed a fifth straight win for the rampant Reds in Europe this season. It ended an eight-game winless streak against their Spanish opponents, in a fixture that has become something of a modern rivalry.
Penalty Drama Unfolds
The match took a dramatic twist midway through the second half when both sides were awarded penalties within minutes of each other. First, Real’s talisman Kylian Mbappé saw his spot kick brilliantly saved by Liverpool’s stand-in goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher.
Soon after, Mohamed Salah had the chance to double Liverpool’s lead from 12 yards out. But astonishingly, the usually reliable Egyptian sent his effort wide of the post, letting Madrid off the hook.
Nobody will have been more pleased to see Salah skew his second-half penalty wide at Anfield than Mbappé, having seen his own spot kick saved nine minutes earlier.
Analysis from ESPN
Mbappé’s Disastrous Night
For all his undoubted talent, this was a night to forget for Kylian Mbappé. The Frenchman had a golden opportunity to get Madrid back on level terms but fluffed his lines from the spot.
It summed up a subdued performance overall, with the 22-year-old registering only two shots all game, completing just 16 passes. The missed penalty was the defining moment though – a chance to silence the raucous Anfield crowd that went begging.
Liverpool’s Secret Weapon
With Alisson missing through injury, Kelleher once again proved himself an able deputy with that crucial penalty save from Mbappé. Manager Jürgen Klopp calls the Irishman “the best No.2 in the world” – on this evidence it’s hard to argue.
Kelleher has actually featured more for Liverpool than Alisson in 2024 due to the Brazilian’s ongoing hamstring troubles. Performances like this show the Reds are in safe hands, even if his long-term future may lie away from Merseyside given the impending arrival of Mamardashvili.
Bradley Outshines Alexander-Arnold
Trent Alexander-Arnold was given a glimpse of Liverpool’s bright future as he watched on from the bench. His 21-year-old understudy Conor Bradley put in a man-of-the-match display at right-back, capped by a crunching early tackle on Mbappé that set the tone.
Bradley bombed forward at every opportunity, unfortunate not to crown his performance with a goal as Thibaut Courtois denied him with a world-class save. Food for thought for Alexander-Arnold as rumors swirl about his own future.
Bellingham’s Anfield Nightmares
Jude Bellingham endured a torrid evening on his return to the stadium he turned down in 2023. The England star had complained about unfair treatment after the Euros, but did little to prove the doubters wrong here.
Deployed in an unfamiliar deep role, Bellingham was overwhelmed by the energy and quality of Liverpool’s midfield. His frustrations boiled over as he was outshone by the very players the Reds signed instead of him – Mac Allister and Gravenberch.
Real Facing Group Stage Exit
For all their pedigree and Galactico talent, Real Madrid find themselves in the unthinkable position of facing elimination at the Champions League group stage. Three defeats from five games leaves them clinging on to a qualifying spot by their fingernails.
The final matchday sees Los Blancos travel to Atalanta, last season’s Europa League winners. Failure to win there, coupled with results elsewhere, would see the 15-time champions suffer the ignominy of dropping into UEFA’s secondary competition.
With endless speculation linking Alexander-Arnold with a free agent move to Real next summer, the 26-year-old might just have learned that the La Liga giants are a team in decline.
Mark Ogden, ESPN
Liverpool March On
In contrast, Liverpool’s serene progress through a tricky group has been mightily impressive under new manager Arne Slot. Five wins from five, with revenge over Real Madrid the sweetest of them all.
The Reds look well equipped for another deep run in a competition they have such rich history in. With Salah, Gakpo and Mac Allister forming a deadly attacking trident and youngsters like Bradley making their mark, these are exciting times at Anfield, both domestically and in Europe.
