Arne Slot passed his first Real test as Liverpool boss – by achieving what predecessor Jurgen Klopp never could.
In almost a decade in charge of Liverpool, Klopp failed to beat Real Madrid. But Slot has now taken down the European champions within six months – as part of his mission to make sure Klopp will not be missed.
Second half goals from Alexis Mac Allister and substitute Cody Gakpo were more than enough to see Liverpool win this clash of European royalty. Whether Liverpool can go on to take Real’s crown remains to be seen.
READ MORE: Five things Arne Slot learned as Liverpool outclass hapless Madrid at Anfield
READ MORE: Mbappe ‘sums up his evening’ with penalty miss during torrid Anfield display
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But this win left Slot’s men on top of the Champions League table looking down on the rest, safe in the knowledge no-one will want to face them further down the line. Fifteen years had passed since Liverpool last beat Real.
A run of eight games, including two crushing final losses. But this felt like the right time for Liverpool to bring an end to the hoodoo.
(Image: Getty Images)
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The team’s transition from Klopp to Slot has been seamless, with the Merseyside outfit storming into a handsome lead at the top of the Premier League table.
Liverpool had also started this week top of the Champions League pile as well, following four straight wins. Real, meanwhile, arrived at Anfield second in La Liga to bitter rivals Barcelona, and in the bottom half of the Champions League table.
Pressure was growing on Carlo Ancelotti, who was still struggling to get the best from superstar signing Kylian Mbappe. While Jude Bellingham was also failing to hit the remarkable heights of his debut season, with just two goals in 13 games in all competitions.
(Image: PA)
And it was Liverpool who almost went ahead inside the opening five minutes. Mo Salah picked the pocket of Mbappe before exchanging passes with Darwin Nunez, who saw his angled shot hacked off the line by Raul Asencio.
Luis Diaz then shot wide before Thibaut Courtois produced an instinctive save to deny Nunez from point blank range. Liverpool dominated while Real offered little.
And when Mbappe did threaten to break free, the impeccable Conor Bradley was on hand to snuff him out with a crunching tackle. Nunez sent a header inches wide of the far post, before Courtois kept another one out from Diaz as Real continued to ride their luck.
(Image: PA)
Curtis Jones shot over the top before Courtois produced another fine save to keep out Bradley’s header. But Real’s resistance was broken before the hour mark when Mac Allister ran onto Bradley’s pass and swivelled, before sliding a low shot into the bottom corner.
Moments later Mac Allister could have doubled the advantage, but curled a shot just wide. Then came the low point of a miserable night for Mbappe, when Caoimhin Kelleher saved his penalty.
With 20 minutes remaining Salah had the chance to bury Real, but came out in sympathy for Mbappe instead by missing a penalty of his own. But it didn’t matter. The Spanish giants had been reduced to a shambles.
And Gakpo piled on the pain for Ancelotti’s men 14 minutes from time with a powerful header that gave Courtois no chance. History has shown you can never write-off Real.
But there was no coming back this time, against a team under Slot that will take some stopping in the coming months.