Liverpool cracked the Madrileño code on Wednesday night, plunging reigning European champions Real Madrid into deeper continental dismay with a 2-0 victory at Anfield.
A lively Los Blancos attack was well tamed by solid performances throughout Liverpool’s midfield and defence, as the Reds’ possessive pressure took its toll in the second half. Alexis Mac Allister beat Thibaut Courtois to open the home side’s account, with substitute Cody Gakpo rounding out a decisive victory following squandered penalty kicks for both sides.
The result leaves the Merengues in a dire position, having now lost three Champions League group fixtures for the first time in their storied history. They now sit 24th in the recently reformatted Champions League table: were they to finish the group stage in this position, the 15-time champions would risk dropping out of Europe’s premier continental competition altogether.
Following a tense 3-2 away victory over Southampton on Sunday, Liverpool manager Arne Slot opted for two substitutions. Alexis Mac Allister joined Ryan Gravenberch in the heart of midfield, whilst Luis Diaz – enjoying a real renaissance under the Dutch coach – replaced Cody Gakpo in attack. Academy graduates Connor Bradley and Curtis Jones have both impressed this season, and were rewarded by their manager with places in the starting lineup.
For Real, the injury to star hitman Vinicius Junior forced Carlo Ancelotti to shuffle the deck. Brahim Diaz joined Kylian Mbappé up front, whilst 19-year-old Arda Güler was handed a first Champions League start for the Spanish giants. Ferland Mendy and Luka Modric were also brought in, replacing Dani Ceballos and Fran Garcia. Utility-man Federico Valverde – typically playing in midfield – was lauded by his manager at the weekend as the ‘third-best right-back in Spain’. It was little surprise, therefore, to see him reprise this role at Anfield.
“The youngster [Güler] showed particular promise in his ability to win the ball high up the pitch: a constant menace, he harangued the Liverpool rearguard, whilst acting as the puppet master manipulating quick passing and even quicker feet from Mbappé and Brahim.”
After a very promising performance against fellow Madrid side Leganes on Sunday night, Raul Asencio was given the defensive responsibility at centre back, partnering veteran Antonio Rüdiger. Asencio – officially a defender for Real’s ‘B’ side, Castilla – was called into action early on, both throwing Real to the sharks as well as pulling them back out again. His back pass to Thibaut Courtois was nearly calamitous, but for his wonderful clearance off the line to spare Real’s blushes.
At the other end of the field, Turkish sensation Güler made a very bright start to the game, orchestrating Real’s sweeping attacking surges into the Liverpool half. The youngster showed particular promise in his ability to win the ball high up the pitch: a constant menace, he harangued the Liverpool rearguard, whilst acting as the puppet master manipulating quick passing and even quicker feet from Mbappé and Brahim.
Buoyed on by the Anfield atmosphere, Liverpool were more than equal to all that Madrid could muster. Luis Diaz was sharp from the first whistle: despite Real’s stubborn defensive rigidity, his liquidity of movement allowed the Reds into Madrid’s box on more than one occasion.
It would be academy product Curtis Jones, however, who would come closest to unseating the defending champions. Jones, capitalising on defensive indecision, played Darwin Nunez in for a point-blank effort on goal. Yet Courtois – after keeping his 100th clean sheet in Madrid’s recent LaLiga fixture – was its equal, flying off of his line to deliver a stunning reflex stop.
Despite the roars of the fans in red, Liverpool struggled to break down Real’s tight defensive unit. The Spanish side opted for a very compact 4-4-2 formation when out of possession, ceding possession to Liverpool in favour a narrow defensive shape. The Reds were forced to bide their time, patiently zipping the ball around the fringes of the pitch whilst looking for gaps to pry open.
They were incredibly effective at forcing Madrid to hunt on the counterattack. Valverde and Güler both shone in this respect, but Liverpool’s Andy Robertson made light work of most threats that came his way. The left-back dealt with Güler and Jude Bellingham on numerous occasions, whilst his full-back partner Connor Bradley was given the unenviable task of shackling the indefatigable Mbappé. Bradley was imperious in his duels with the Frenchman, scything the frontman down on 30 minutes to raise the decibel levels emanating from the Kop. Real’s Galáctico was little bother for Liverpool’s homegrown hero on the night.
“[Robertson] was perhaps unlucky to catch the marauding substitute Lucas Vasquez, but was unluckier still to watch penalty specialist Mbappé stride up to the spot as VAR confirmed the foul. Real’s number nine had a confident smirk, dispatching a competent kick, only to watch Kelleher guess correctly and deliver a beautiful save to keep the Reds ahead. The Scotsman’s face was saved, while Mbappé’s grins were washed away.”
Nunez would have the best chance of the half, his header flashing narrowly wide of Courtois’ post after a deft lobbed pass in from Mac Allister. Luis Diaz then forced a punch from the Belgian stopper, with the ball eventually finding Güler: the Turkish midfielder attempted to chip Caoimhin Kelleher from distance, but his effort failed to worry the Irishman.
Yet another reflex save from Courtois – once again denying Darwin Nunez – seemed to indicate that Liverpool’s dominance in the first-half would translate well into the second. The pressure had certainly been building and, just six minutes into the second-half, Liverpool capitalised on their control over the game. Mac Allister charged into the box, laying a pass off to Bradley. The youngster placed a one-touch pass back into the Argentinian’s feet, allowing Mac Allister to stroke a shot beneath Courtois. The Kop – given a front-row ticket for Liverpool’s second-half passing concerto – were in raptures.
The Merseyside outfit appeared to have a deserved grip on the match, but Real Madrid are to be underestimated at one’s peril. On 58 minutes, a clumsy challenge from Robertson offered to change the narrative. He was perhaps unlucky to catch the marauding substitute Lucas Vasquez, but was unluckier still to watch penalty specialist Mbappé stride up to the spot as VAR confirmed the foul. Real’s number nine had a confident smirk, dispatching a competent kick, only to watch Kelleher guess correctly and deliver a beautiful save to keep the Reds ahead. The Scotsman’s face was saved, while Mbappé’s grins were washed away.
Liverpool would then be awarded a penalty of their own, as Mohammed Salah dizzied Ferland Mendy to win the foul. The Egyptian took authority over the spot-kick but, remarkably, struck the post as Courtois dived the other way. Surprisingly, this was not the invitation for Madrid to up their game that might have been expected. Sloppy passing – and very effective zonal marking from those in red shirts – afforded Real virtually no attacking threat.
Without forging a route back into the game, Ancelotti’s side were the authors of their own fate, allowing Liverpool to snatch another goal. Slot’s inspired introduction of Cody Gakpo paid dividends, as the Dutchman leapt higher than the Real defence to thunder Robertson’s cross past Courtois.
Carlo Ancelotti was, arguably, the architect of his own downfall. The transfer of Kylian Mbappé to Real Madrid promised such huge rewards, but questions of positioning plague the performances of the world-class attacker. Deployed down the middle, Mbappé seems to perform best with Vinicius at his side: without the Brazilian, he was absent throughout, reduced to fruitless runs often into an offside position. Ancelotti’s introduction of Endrick with 20 minutes to play was, therefore, too late to have an impact.
Chances for both sides rounded out proceedings, with both keepers passing tests from Luis Diaz and Lucas Vasquez respectively to seal another defeat for Real. Ancelotti acknowledged the faults of his side, whilst also searching for positives amidst a worrying defeat.
“It’s a fair result: Liverpool deserved to win. They have a really good dynamic at the moment, they’re in great form, they’re connected and play with a high intensity.“
“Once we [Real] gained the ball, we made the wrong decisions going forward and [with] the final ball as well. But we fought right up to the point of the penalty. We competed well.”
Real welcome Getafe to the Bernabéu on Sunday afternoon. They will hope to gain some momentum in their next three league fixtures, before a must-win visit to Atalanta in their next Champions League matchup.
