LIVERPOOL – REAL MADRID 2-0:
Liverpool and Real Madrid had met eight times in the Champions League over the last ten years before Wednesday’s match. Seven of those matches had ended in a Real Madrid victory, while one had ended in a draw.
On Wednesday evening, Liverpool could finally celebrate breaking the nightmare streak against the Spanish giants.
Arne Slot’s men won a dramatic match 2-0 at home at Anfield after goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo in the second half. Liverpool is also leading the Champions League table with 15 points from five matches.
For Real Madrid, things are going worse. Wednesday’s bitter loss to Liverpool marks the reigning champions’ third defeat in the Champions League this season.
After five matches played, they sit all the way down in 24th place in the table. If they fall further down, they risk being eliminated from the tournament before the knockout stage.
In Wednesday’s match, Kylian Mbappé received much of the blame for the zero points. With the score at 1-0 to Liverpool in the second half, the visitors were awarded a penalty, but the Frenchman missed it.
– That sums up Mbappé’s evening. He has been shocking, said expert Paul Merson on Sky Sports.
MISS: Caoimhin Kelleher saved Kylian Mbappé’s penalty.
Photo: Peter Byrne (AP)
– Kylian Mbappé has had a nightmare of an evening. He just hasn’t been able to make it work, said BBC expert Chris Sutton.
– A big result
Caoimhin Kelleher was the man who saved Mbappé’s penalty.
– I was confident and thankfully went the right way, he told TNT Sports after the match.
– It’s a big result. We wanted to come out tonight and perform, and well done to the boys for achieving that, said the goalkeeper about the strong victory on Wednesday evening.
On Sunday, another big match awaits as Liverpool meets Manchester City. The match is referred to by many as a season-defining encounter, as Liverpool could create an eleven-point gap down to City if they beat them.
– I believe the confidence is high throughout the squad. We know that Manchester City has had some tough results, but what a team. We expect a very tough test, but this is good confidence for the team, said Kelleher about the upcoming match.
Great opportunities
It was Liverpool who created the biggest chances in the first half on Wednesday evening. After four minutes, the home team was very close to taking the lead, but Real Madrid’s young star Raul Asencio cleared the ball off the line just in time.
Asencio later found himself in a scuffle with Darwin Nunez, where the latter eventually went down in a quite theatrical manner. At least that’s what Sky Sports expert Paul Merson thought.
– Nunez went down as if he was hit, but he wasn’t. It’s embarrassing. He wasn’t touched. Does he not know there are cameras? Embarrassing, he said on Sky Sports’ broadcast.
Midway through the half, Nunez had a massive opportunity to rectify the impression and put the home team in the lead, but Thibaut Courtois was quick off his line and made the job difficult for Nunez, who could not outsmart the Belgian.
The Uruguayan was dangerous again ten minutes later, but his header just sneaked past the post.
Real Madrid got a few nice counter-attacking opportunities as the half progressed, but the royal whites could not capitalize on them.
The teams went into halftime with a score of 0-0, where perhaps the most memorable moment of the first half was a spectacular sliding tackle from Conor Bradley on Kylian Mbappé.
– That is so great! It’s right on the ball, exclaimed TV 2 expert Brede Hangeland after the incredible tackle.
Liverpool came out guns blazing in the second half, and it didn’t take long before they were rewarded for it.
Drama in the second half
After a tremendous amount of pressure, Alexis Mac Allister put Liverpool ahead in the 52nd minute. The Argentine played a one-two with Bradley before guiding the ball effortlessly into the net with a quick finish that went in to the right of a helpless Courtois.
Real Madrid woke up a bit after Liverpool’s goal, and in the 59th minute, the away team was awarded a penalty after Lucas Vazquez went down in Liverpool’s penalty area.
Mbappé, who had not had an impressive game up until that point, stepped up to take the penalty. It did not go well.
The Frenchman shot to the right, but Kelleher was down and saved it. Thus, a frustrated Mbappé had to realise he had squandered a huge opportunity to equalize.
But the Frenchman would not be the only one to miss a penalty in this match. Ten minutes later, Liverpool was awarded a penalty, and Mohamed Salah stepped up to take it.
He smashed it with his left foot but only hit the outside of the post. Thus, he too failed to capitalize on the chance from eleven meters.
The disappointment, however, did not last long for the home team. A quarter of an hour before the end, Liverpool received a corner. They took it short before Robertson crossed the ball into the box.
A very good cross found Gakpo, who from five meters headed the ball into the net behind Courtois, thus doubling the lead for the reds.
How can Kylian Mbappé recover from a disappointing performance against Liverpool?
Interview between the Time.news Editor and Football Expert
Editor: Good afternoon and welcome to Time.news! Today, we’re thrilled to have renowned football analyst, Dr. Emma Laurent, with us to dissect last night’s stunning Champions League match between Liverpool and Real Madrid. Emma, thank you for joining us.
Dr. Laurent: Thank you for having me! It’s great to be here, especially after such an electrifying match.
Editor: Indeed! Liverpool finally broke their losing streak against Real Madrid with a 2-0 victory. Given that Real Madrid had won seven out of their last eight encounters in the Champions League, how significant is this win for Liverpool?
Dr. Laurent: This victory is monumental for Liverpool. Breaking that psychological barrier against such a formidable opponent can rejuvenate a team’s confidence. After struggling against Madrid for so long, this win at Anfield not only boosts their morale but solidifies their position at the top of the Champions League table with 15 points from five matches.
Editor: Absolutely! The goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo in the second half must have felt like a breath of fresh air for their fans. What did you think about Liverpool’s performance as a whole?
Dr. Laurent: Liverpool showed remarkable resilience and composure. They dominated the first half in terms of chances, and while they didn’t convert in that period, they didn’t let that phase them. Their ability to keep pressing and capitalize on opportunities in the second half demonstrates a strong team mentality.
Editor: Speaking of missed opportunities, Kylian Mbappé had a rough night and even missed a penalty. What does this mean for Real Madrid’s season moving forward, especially since they now sit with just one point from five matches?
Dr. Laurent: It’s a significant blow for them. A missed penalty in such a crucial match can sap a team’s spirit. With this defeat, Real Madrid now faces a very real risk of elimination from the tournament before the knockout stage, which would be unprecedented for the defending champions. The pressure is definitely mounting on both the players and the coaching staff.
Editor: Paul Merson and Chris Sutton didn’t hold back in their critiques of Mbappé’s performance. How should he bounce back from such a public disappointment?
Dr. Laurent: Criticism can be tough, especially from pundits who are thoroughly analyzed and scrutinized by fans. Mbappé needs to maintain his focus and channel this disappointment into positive training sessions. He’s an incredible talent, but every player goes through rough patches. The key is how you respond to them.
Editor: You mentioned the upcoming match against Manchester City, which could be a season-defining encounter for Liverpool. What are your thoughts on how they should approach that game?
Dr. Laurent: Liverpool must approach the match with both caution and confidence. Given Manchester City’s recent struggles, Liverpool has an opportunity to capitalize. However, City remains a top-tier team with the capability to turn things around quickly. Liverpool should focus on maintaining their defensive solidity while exploiting counter-attacks effectively.
Editor: And what do you think this match tells us about the competitiveness of the current Champions League season?
Dr. Laurent: This season is shaping up to be incredibly competitive. With established teams like Liverpool gaining momentum and others like Real Madrid facing vulnerabilities, we could see some surprising outcomes. Each match is a testament to how quickly fortunes can change in football. It’s shaping up to be a thrilling tournament!
Editor: Thank you so much, Dr. Laurent, for sharing your insights with us today. It’s been a pleasure discussing this pivotal match with you.
Dr. Laurent: Thank you for having me! I’m looking forward to the rest of the season—it’s going to be exciting!
