After an impressive 2-0 victory against Real Madrid, it’s clear that Arne Slot’s Liverpool side are going to be a major player in all competitions this season.
But what did we learn from Wednesday evening’s fixture against Los Blancos? Dec Patterson was at Anfield to capture the key talking points >>>
Slotting Liverpool in at the top of the table
Liverpool are flying in all competitions. The Merseyside team sit eight points clear at the top of the table with a favourable home fixture against out-of-form Manchester City at the weekend. That’s not all though. They also lie first in the Champions League, becoming the only team to win every single one of their games in the competition this season. No one expected perfection from Slot when he first took the reins in the summer, but are we seeing a managerial masterclass unfold before our eyes?
Salah-stay or should I go?
The Egyptian has made his stance clear. But did he let the contract situation affect his performance? After manipulating Ferland Mendy into a clipping his ankles, you would think this was Salah at his very best but the lashed penalty that followed could be call for concern for Liverpool fans. Slot is far from eager to comment but the situation must be playing on everyone’s mind within the club. A solution soon could be exactly what is needed ahead of a busy festive schedule.
Mbappe Misery
When you see a player of Mbappe’s calibre stepping up to take a penalty you just expect to see the ball nestle in the goal – but not this time. After not making the significant impact he expected to when he made his record-breaking transfer in the summer, we are seeing the Frenchman in a vulnerable position unlike ever before. Second best in La Liga and sitting 24th in the Champions League, Los Blancos are looking for someone to bail them out this season, but time is running out.
Hey Jude!
Jude Bellingham has never played at Anfield before, albeit he was rumoured to join the Reds permanently two summers ago. His first rendezvous was rather unaffective as the visitors only had eight shots all evening. The creative midfielder flopped to his knees following the full time whistle, suggesting immense disappointment with the result as well as his own personal performance.
GK-elleher
The scoreline may suggest a comfortable Liverpool win but at one point the victory all lay in the hands of second-choice goalkeeper, Caoimhin Kelleher. A fantastic dive to his left hand side denied one of the world’s best attackers, Kylian Mbappe. Kelleher has saved his last three penalties that he’s faced for club and country. Could the Irishmen add to his tally of penalty saves to make it a four-leaf clover?
