Liverpool, irresistible in the Champions League, brought down defending champion Real Madrid (2-0), without spring or Vinicius, and weighed down by a missed penalty from Kylian Mbappé, transparent on Wednesday at Anfield.
The “Reds” took advantage of a pale Real, weakened by injuries and the clumsiness of their Frenchman, to stretch their perfect start to the league phase, which they dominate after five victories in five matches. In the process, they erase a piece of history against the Spanish ogre in the fifteen Champions Leagues, whom they had not beaten for fifteen years, eight matches and a 4-0 in March 2009.
Everything continues to go very well for new coach Arne Slot, whose name was forcefully sung at Anfield, and everything is starting to go wrong for Carlo Ancelotti, stunned by three defeats in C1. His Real has failed in the majority of matches played this season, whether against rival FC Barcelona in La Liga (0-4), against AC Milan in the Champions League (1-3), and now at Liverpool .
In his defense, the former Everton coach was deprived of a multitude of potential starters on Wednesday, starting with Dani Carvajal, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Rodrygo and especially Vinicius Junior, his top scorer.
Mbappé draft
This stacking of packages brought Kylian Mbappé back to his preferred left lane, rather than up front where he has fewer references and space. But the former Parisian extended his half-fig, half-grape debut in the white jersey, with sometimes superfluous dribbles, poorly controlled or lost balls, like the one stolen by Mohamed Salah and which would have ended up in the Real goal without a save from Asensio on the line (4th).
The captain of the Blues especially missed a penalty which would have allowed his new club to equalize on the hour mark, his shot being repelled by Caoimhin Kelleher (61st).
Ultimately, it was the one responsible for muzzling him, the young Conor Bradley, who stood out more on both sides of the field. At the age of 21, and with not even a year of Premier League in his legs, the right-back marked his territory with a rough but correct sliding tackle on the Frenchman (32nd) who set Anfield on fire.
He ventured into the Spanish camp to place a header that Thibaut Courtois brushed aside (51st) and, above all, came to the front of the area to deliver a perfect assist for Alexis Mac Allister (52nd, 1-0). The Belgian goalkeeper had his work cut out for him, notably against Darwin Nunez in the first period, and he lost a second time on a header from an incoming player, Cody Gakpo, receiving a cross (76th, 2-0).
In the meantime, Liverpool wasted a penalty on a penalty obtained by Mohamed Salah, hooked in the area by Ferland Mendy, but which the Egyptian hit hard next to the frame (70th). The only possible bad news for the “Reds” came from the apparent injury suffered by Ibrahima Konaté just before the final whistle. The French defender, hit in the right leg, appeared grimacing and left the pitch limping.
The best defense in the Premier League could have to do without the French centre-back on Sunday against Manchester City in the Premier League.
The “Reds” beat the Spanish club for the first time in fifteen years thanks to goals from Alexis Mac Allister (52nd) and Cody Gakpo (76th), and despite an equally missed penalty from Mohamed Salah (70th) twenty minutes later that of the French.
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