Liverpool 2-0 Real Madrid: Reds ease to Champions League win as Mohamed Salah and Kylian Mbappe miss penalties

Evening Standard

·27 de novembro de 2024

Liverpool 2-0 Real Madrid: Reds ease to Champions League win as Mohamed Salah and Kylian Mbappe miss penalties

Liverpool are the only side with maximum points in the Champions League this season

Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring at Anfield

Vídeos OneFootball

Peter Byrne/PA Wire

Liverpool extended their perfect record in the Champions League as they delivered a statement performance to beat Real Madrid 2-0 at Anfield.

Arne Slot’s side had won their opening four matches in Europe and, in what was their toughest test to date, passed with flying colours to move back to the top of the table.

Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring with a smart finish early in the second-half, before the focus turned to the penalty spot. Kylian Mbappe saw his effort saved by Caoimhin Kelleher at one end, before Mohamed Salah then failed to even hit the target with his penalty at the other.

That did not hurt Liverpool, though, as their second goal came with just under 15 minutes to go. Andy Robertson’s cross picked out Cody Gakpo, who made no mistake as he powered a header beyond Thibaut Courtois.

Liverpool’s now face a crucial Premier League showdown with Manchester City this weekend, while Real are left with significant work to do in Europe. Carlo Ancelotti’s side sit 24th in the table with three matches to go - only the top eight go straight through to the last-16.

Liverpool were deserved winners against the European champions

AFP via Getty Images

The hosts started the match on the front foot and Raul Asencio, on his first Champions League start, was forced into action in the opening minutes. The centre-back was inches away from turning the ball into his own net, but scrambled back to clear it off the line.

Darwin Nunez went close with a header but it was otherwise a first-half with little in the way of clear-cut chances. The biggest cheer of the half came after a crunching Conor Bradley, the full-back flying in on Mbappe to halt the counter.

Liverpool were firmly on top immediately after the break, Bradley forcing Courtois into a save and Salah having a penalty appeal waved away. The goal felt inevitable and it came within seven minutes of the restart, as Mac Allister got the ball out of his feet in the box and reversed a low finish into the far corner.

Real’s response should have come on the hour mark, when Lucas Vazquez, just off the bench, chopped inside Robertson and the officials deemed there to be enough contact with the outstretched leg for a penalty. Mbappe had the chance to make up for a quiet night up to that point, but instead summed his performance up as Kelleher guessed correctly to parry the weak spot-kick away.

Ten minutes later the referee was pointing to the spot again, this time in front of the Kop. Salah twisted Ferland Mendy inside and out, the left-back desperately flicking out a leg and bringing down the Egyptian inside the box. The Liverpool forward stepped up, Courtois went the wrong way but the ball bounced off the outside of the post and wide.

Real could not make the most of that let-off as Liverpool did finally double their lead. Substitute Gakpo was bright after his introduction and he put his side in control, getting up above Luka Modric and heading home after Robertson and Curtis Jones had worked a short corner well.

Liverpool had the chance to extend the winning margin, Luis Diaz denied superbly by Courtois in stoppage-time as he attempted to dink the goalkeeper.

That did nothing to stop the party atmosphere inside Anfield, though, as Liverpool beat Real Madrid for the first time since 2009 and provided further evidence that they are ready to seriously challenge on all fronts this season.

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