Liverpool have won five of five Champions League games to move top of the table with a shock 2-0 victory over Real Madrid at Anfield.
Alexis Mac Allister ruled the game and gave the Reds the lead before substitute Cody Gakpo headed in a second goal in the 76th minute. Arne Slot’s side fully deserved their victory, but the score could have been very different, with Kylian Mbappe and Mohamed Salah flanking their lines from the penalty spot.
There were massive performances across the box for the hosts, and while Mac Allister was the pick of the bunch, Conor Bradley caught the eye with a display that showed Trent Alexander-Arnold he can start looking over his shoulder.
Here, Express Sport tells you how the Liverpool player behaved that night. . .
Caoimhin Kelleher: 8
He had nothing to do until Mbappé put the ball there. He leapt brilliantly to his left to fend off the Frenchman and then made a couple of decent saves in a timely manner.
Conor Bradley: 8
A true coming-of-age functionality compared to a player like Mbappé. Anfield enjoyed their forceful portrayal of the World Cup winner. He was competitive and gave a great hand to Mac Allister. Alexander-Arnold is coming to the end of his contract with Liverpool and Slot already has a replacement ready.
Ibrahima Konate: 7
With a wall behind him, Konaté made a very good block in the first half to avoid a cross from Luka Modric and avoid a damaging attack by Real.
Virgil van Dijk: 7
Got away with a sloppy pass which went straight to Arda Guler early on, but like the rest of his team-mates, grew in confidence as the match progressed. Van Dijk was purring by the end and his cross-field ball is a sight to behold.
Andres Robertson: 6
Endangering the result with a clumsy take by Lucas Vázquez in the second half. A penalty was awarded, but Kelleher saved it. Robertson made amends with a superb cross for Gakpo to head Liverpool’s second goal.
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Ryan Gravenberch: 6 (reserved)
It was a consistent performance, but his midfield teammates did the maximum of the job.
Alexis Mac Allister: nine (reserved)
The most productive player on the field. He couldn’t miss accurate balls in the box, one of which was headed wide through Darwin Nunez and the other headed into the target through Bradley. He hit his goal brilliantly and found himself one-on-one with Jude Bellingham. This warning means that he will miss Liverpool’s trip to Girona next month.
Mohamed Salah: 7
The Egyptian was harassed by Real’s defenders, but he had a moment: this time it was to put Ferland Mendy face down and take a penalty. His score would have been higher if he hadn’t destroyed it extensively.
Curtis Jones: 7 (Dominik Szoboszlai, years old)
Nothing particularly spectacular from Jones but it is evident that he is full of confidence and remains untouchable in Slot’s starting line-up.
Luis Diaz: 6
A strangely quiet afternoon for the Colombian. Liverpool were the biggest team, the midfielders and defenders were the ones who shone the most.
Darwin Nunez: 6 (booked) (Gakpo, 67)
A predictably mixed bag from Nunez, who combined silly fouls and missed chances with ferocious defensive work and non-stop running.
SUBS
Cody Gakpo: 7
Mounted on top of the box to put the game on the bed. Create a wonderful opportunity for the defeated Diaz. Great effect from the submarine.
Dominik Szoboszlai: N/A
An expired incorporation.
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