The European champions, Liverpool's bête noire, have been at Anfield. With the addition of Mbappé, Real Madrid has proven that they are worse than last year.
Liverpool certainly didn't expect it to be so easy. They won 2-0 and Sallah missed a penalty, so did Mbappé
Real Madrid Did Not Pose Any Danger
Mac Allister scored in the 51st minute, taking advantage of Asencio's hesitation. Gapko, unmarked and with a header, scored in the 76th minute.
The worst part of the match: Real Madrid only had two shots on target, apart from the penalty missed by Mbappé. It was during the added time (Lucas Vázquez and Brahim).
On paper, Real Madrid came out as an organized team. Even Tomás Roncero applauded Ancelotti's lineup:
"The eleven that Ancelotti puts out is one to be trusted. The midfield is the most beautiful one in a long time at Real Madrid. Four surgical players."
Ancelotti started with Modric, Bellingham, Camavinga and Güler in the midfield. All of them are great players.
Today Vinícius was Not There to "hinder" Mbappé
Even with four surgical players behind him, surgeon Mbappé was not given any play. This is the pending issue for this Real Madrid, which would earn more trust if the Frenchman had four clear chances in each game.
Today, Vinícius didn't "hinder" him, but he only offered a couple of glimpses of his level. Little more. He also missed the penalty.
Real Madrid had a clear idea. With Vinícius absent, the devil for Liverpool's Reds, Real Madrid could find its French star better than ever.
But they couldn't find it. Mbappé played with the freedom that Vinícius's absence gave him, acting as the only natural reference point at the tip of the offense.
Mbappé Went Unnoticed
But Mbappé was not up to the task that Real Madrid fans were asking of him. As an absentee, it seemed that the game was not in his favor.
It's a problem that Ancelotti must solve as soon as possible. Mbappé cannot go unnoticed. Real Madrid must get the most out of him.
The match was not pretty; both teams had a lot of respect for each other. Liverpool dominated the first half, but without creating too much danger. Courtois intervened little but well.
Real Madrid lacked the ability to scare its opponents in the first half to prevent any offensive success.
During the second half, however Liverpool took control of a match that was closer to 3-0 than 2-1. Without shots on goal it is difficult to win. That needn't be explained to the reigning European champions, the one that won the 15th.
Real Madrid Did Not Play at All
The collective game, moreover, didn't provide anything good. Real Madrid didn't play at all. Playing that way is only acceptable when there's a draw or a win.
With the game lost from the 51st minute onward, Madrid was forced to do much more. It seems that Ancelotti hasn't found the key. Today he turned to Endrick when the game was already decided shortly before the end.
Güler disappeared and Brahim was seen very little. Bellingham and Modric have also not appeared from behind. In addition, Camavinga is also sadly injured.
Everything has gone wrong at Anfield. The aggravating factor is that this time Bernabéu cannot make any miracles because there's no second leg to turn things around.
All this with Liverpool without Alexander-Arnold, the club's new transfer for next season.
A match to forget... and to wake up. Qualifying for the round of 16 is becoming very complicated for Real Madrid.
Technical Data Sheet
Liverpool 2 - Real Madrid 0
Liverpool: Kelleher, Bradley, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson, Mc Allister, Gravenberch, Jones, Salah, Luis Díaz and Núñez (Gakpo 66')
Real Madrid : Courtois, Valverde, Asencio, Rudiger, Mendy (Salah 70'), Camavinga (Lucas 55'), Modric (Endrick 78'), Güler (Ceballos 55'), Bellingham, Brahim and Mbappé
Goals : 1-0 Mc Allister (51'), 2-0 Gakpo (76')
Referee : François Letexier. He showed yellow cards to Núñez, Asencio, Mc Allister, Ceballos and Endrick
Field : Anfield (full capacity)