Liverpool Slot machine two good for Real Madrid
Alexis Mac Allister and substitute Cody Gakpo were on target as Liverpool continued its perfect start to the Champions League with a 2-0 win over defending champion Real Madrid.
The result saw Liverpool earn its first win against Madrid at the ninth attempt, and there was no stopping Arne Slot's side on an enthralling night at Anfield.
The host started strongly to the encounter and almost found itself ahead in the fifth minute when Darwin Nunez’s strike was saved by Thibaut Courtois, with Raul on hand to clear the ball off the line.
Nunez continued to be Liverpool’s main threat in the first half, seeing a close-range effort repelled by Courtois before sending a header narrowly wide of the far-left post with a deft header after being picked out by Mac Allister’s delicately floated pick-out.
Slot’s side would, however, take the lead seven minutes after the restart when neat interplay between Conor Bradley and Mac Allister resulted in the latter picking out the bottom left corner to send Anfield into raptures.
However, Liverpool’s good work looked to have been undone when Andrew Robertson’s clumsy challenge on Lucas Vazquez inside the box offered Kylian Mbappe the opportunity to level the contest from 12 yards, but the Frenchman saw his effort brilliantly saved by Caoimhin Kelleher.
Mohamed Salah was then tripped at the other end by Ferland Mendy nine minutes later, offering the chance for the Reds to close out the contest, but he too could not convert from the spot, scuffing his spot-kick that struck the post on its way behind, but Liverpool were able to seal the win shortly after.
A quick corner routine saw Robertson play a short one-two with Curtis Jones, with the Scotland captain delivering onto the head of Gakpo to finish, putting them top of the Champions League table with five wins from five.
