2 hours ago
34
Last season, the defining image of Liverpool vs. Real Madrid was Conor Bradley leaving Kylian Mbappe sprawled out on the Anfield turf.
This time, there wasn’t just one to choose from, but multiple. Vinicius Jr. was simply unable to match the intensity of the Northern Irishman. In midfield, only Jude Bellingham could get close.
Liverpool stamped its authority on the game from the off. It snapped and bit into tackles, and channeled its intensity. The tempo was already fast, and when Trent Alexander-Arnold entered the field, the atmosphere in the stands only went up a notch. It was enough to get home side over the line.
Arne Slot’s men deserved it too. Had it not been for Thibaut Courtois, its winning margin of victory would have been much more than just one.
Alexis Mac Allister did beat the Belgian, but Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk, and many others went close. In the first half, Dominik Szoboszlai couldn’t believe he hadn’t netted.
Liverpool did eventually make the breakthrough, though, and it kept a clean sheet. Had the Reds not won all three points, it would have been unjust, but it felt vital nonetheless to get over the line.
Following up a relatively convincing win over Aston Villa was a superb showing in Europe. More important than the results, however, were the performances.
At the start of the season, Liverpool was winning without necessarily deserving to. In the two games this week, it would have been a travesty if it hadn’t.
In the long term, whether or not the Premier League leader, Arsenal, can be caught or not, and whether Liverpool can go all the way in the Champions League, remains to be seen.
To do either, though, it will need to play well consistently, and the results will come. Vitally, this kind of showing feels more sustainable.
The difference? Simple. Here, Liverpool battled and fought. It won its duels and was able to show a level of determination not seen for much of the campaign to date.
Vinicius didn’t get a kick out of Bradley. Mbappe was left flattened by the excellent Ibrahima Konate. Szoboszlai was typically powerful. All over the field, Liverpool’s players came out on top.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
"I think there was a lot of energy and a lot of hard work," Van Dijk told Amazon Prime. "Obviously, they have won 14 in the last 15 — they have a lot of quality.
"We know their strengths so we had to be spot on in everything we do. I think we performed our game plan perfectly. It is easy to say now because we won twice in a row — in a world of chaos, you have to stay calm and see the perspective of things."
Sure, when the long throws and relentless long or dead balls return — and they will — there is another question to be asked about how ‘back’ Liverpool really is.
It can only beat what is put in front of it, though, and against Aston Villa and now Real Madrid, it has done so convincingly.
English (US) ·