28 November 2024
Liverpool secured a convincing 2-0 at home against Real Madrid in the Champions League group stage on Wednesday.
The first half of the match lacked goals from either side, mostly due to a heroic performance by Thibault Courtois, however, Alexis Mac Allister found the net in the 52nd minute. Dutchman Cody Gakpo capped the win for Liverpool in the late minutes with a corner 'taken quickly'.
All three points for Liverpool meanwhile Real Madrid are in serious danger of not even qualifying out of the Group Stages. Liverpool were the better team throughout the whole game, while Real Madrid's performance was a continuation if not a worse than what we've seen from Real Madrid this season.
Many expected Liverpool were going to dominate this game particularly with no Rodrigo and no Vinicius Jr, especially considering the poor form of Kylian Mbappe, but the match was considerably easier for Liverpool.
Real Madrid's performance epitomized their ongoing struggles. They were outplayed in every phase, unable to capitalize on opportunities, and seemingly lacking confidence and leadership. Injuries to key players like Alaba and Vinícius Jr., alongside Mbappé's lack of form, left the team toothless. Even the likes of Modric and Bellingham, expected to step up, were overshadowed. Liverpool's second goal highlighted Madrid's disorganization—Mbappé and others stood idly by as a short corner led to a goal.
The match saw very aggressive positioning by Liverpool, looking to take advantage of playing at home and vs a dysfunctional Real Madrid side. 2-3-5 in possession once the ball passed the halfway line, initially Robertson tucked in as LCB during build up, creating a 3, to take the heat of Gravenberch.
Salah had a very weak game in terms of beating a man, and although he earned a penalty by crossing Fernand Mendy, he lost it.
Conor Bradley on the other hand had a coming of age match, putting in a performance that will most definitely alleviate Liverpool's concerns of losing Alexander Trent Arnold at the end of the season. The tackle on Mbappe was the turning point of the game.
Mbappe had a night to forget as he kept dribbling away from ranger and then switching the ball out to the right where there was no real threat. His mechanical dribbling style isn't as elusive as Vinicius or even a Leao in the big games, he seems quite easy to mark out of the game. His poor for was crowned with a poorer penalty which was saved by Kelleher.
Liverpool's weakest area was arguably left back, Andy Robertson was slow and even conceded a penalty with an unnecessary tackle on Lucas Vasquez, but by putting a slow playmaker type wideman in Arda Guler out there, Ancelotti played into Andy Robertson's hands. His legs were not tested and thus he had one of his best games this season bar the penalty give-away - one of the few times someone took the game to him.
One of the few positives for Real Madrid is that Camavinga looked at home in the pivot region but Belingham for me whilst he got into some great spaces when he drifted to 10, and was forced to do too much defending).
MOTM probably Courtois, I thought he was utterly brilliant once again vs Liverpool. Best keeper of his generation, delivers again.
