Gakpo caps Liverpool win over Actual Madrid as Mbappé is denied from spot

Arne Slot’s Liverpool reboot has its newest dividend. His workforce proceed to boast the one 100% report within the Champions League group stage and this was not simply one other victory, it was a swatting apart of the holders, an announcement of intent.

Actual Madrid have harm Liverpool greater than every other opponent in Europe. In 4 of the earlier seven seasons, they’ve ended their hopes – most agonisingly within the finals of 2018 and 2022.

This was an evening when Liverpool asserted themselves and banished a couple of demons within the course of, star turns all over the place however particularly from Conor Bradley at right-back. He was up towards Kylian Mbappé and never solely barely gave him a kick, he discovered the time to get ahead within the second half, teeing up Alexis Mac Allister for the opening aim. Bradley was given an incredible ovation when he was compelled off in direction of the tip, having felt one thing behind his leg.

Madrid have been a pale imitation of their finest selves, Mbappé not the one participant to go lacking in motion. He was essentially the most high-profile, primarily as a result of he noticed a penalty that might have given his workforce a lifeline out of nowhere at 1-0 saved by Caoimhín Kelleher. It was outstanding to see how little Mbappé might get going; the sloppiness, the turnovers. The place was the magic?

Mohamed Salah missed a penalty on the different finish for Liverpool shortly afterwards however there was no hazard of him and his teammates dwelling to remorse that. The die was solid. After Mbappé’s miss, there was no prospect of a characteristically outlandish Madrid comeback.

Salah gained the penalty himself after sprinting at Ferland Mendy and tying him in a knot. There have been gasps when he blasted the kick large. Liverpool, although, shook their heads clear. Andy Robertson had conceded the penalty when he overcommitted and lunged on the Madrid substitute, Lucas Vásquez. However the left-back made amends when he labored a brief nook with the excellent Curtis Jones earlier than crossing for the substitute Cody Gakpo, who was unmarked. When Gakpo rose for the header, it was a fait accompli.

Liverpool march on to Sunday’s Premier League showdown right here towards Manchester Metropolis, seeking to stretch their lead on the prime of the desk. It at present stands at eight factors; 11 and it could possibly be sport over. Madrid, then again, lag in twenty fourth within the new-look Champions League long-list, with three defeats out of 5. Their subsequent tie just isn’t straightforward – away to Atalanta.

When Madrid have been final at Anfield, within the first leg of the final 16 two seasons in the past, Vinícius Junior scored twice to encourage a 5-2 win. He didn’t journey on this event – considered one of a handful of injured Madrid gamers – and he was a giant miss.

No Vinícius meant Mbappé on the left – a uncommon deal with for him – however nothing went proper, the tone set on his first involvement when he postured, dallied and had his pocket picked by Salah, who set Darwin Núñez away. Thibaut Courtois would push out Núñez’s shot nevertheless it got here off Raúl Asencio to trickle in direction of aim. Asencio stretched again to hack off the road. Mbappé was booed by the house crowd; ditto Jude Bellingham, who struggled on the left of the midfield three.

Liverpool introduced the hearth within the bodily duels, Virgil van Dijk stepping as much as go away one thing on Mbappé within the seventeenth minute and gesturing for him to get off the ground. Ryan Gravenberch noticed yellow for questioning the free-kick choice. Earlier, Núñez had clashed with Asencio. Each have been booked.

It was Bradley who put down the obvious marker of the primary half, drawing a guttural roar from the Liverpool help. Arda Güler had ushered Mbappé up the within left however throughout got here Bradley to wash him out with the proper slide sort out.

Liverpool had all the probabilities earlier than the interval, with Courtois referred to as upon to make a giant save on 23 minutes when Mendy acquired a foot in on Jones and the ball broke in direction of Núñez. The goalkeeper is a hulking presence. He made himself even larger at shut quarters to dam.

Luis Díaz had snatched at two early taking pictures alternatives. In direction of the tip of the primary interval, Mac Allister dinked balls excessive for first Núñez after which Díaz. On the primary one, Núñez’s header rolled inches large of the far submit.

Would Liverpool rue the lack to make their first-half ascendency depend? The concern appeared to drift away when Mac Allister scored and it had been coming, Slot’s workforce totally dominant after the restart. Maybe their exhausting working earlier than the break had worn Madrid down.

What was most noticeable after the restart was how Bradley pushed excessive into an inside ahead place. He had a golden likelihood for 1-0 when he ghosted on to a free header just for Courtois to plunge to his proper and save. It was shortly forgotten when Bradley handed to Mac Allister and, after taking a contact, he wrapped a low shot again into the far nook. Jones had enjoyable on the ball, his stability really easy on the attention and Mac Allister nearly scored once more, whipping a shot simply off course.

The Madrid penalty was grievously towards the run of play; Mbappé’s failure in step with his night. Salah’s miss was extra stunning. Liverpool absorbed it.