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Three talking points from Liverpool 2-0 Real Madrid
Seven wins and one draw. That was the record Real Madrid held over Liverpool in their last eight clashes in Europe with their last defeat dating back to 2009.
That script ended at Anfield yesterday as the UEFA Champions League leaders dominantly put two goals past the men in white to walk away with a 2-0 win, a result that was kind to the Spanish giants.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side did indeed enter the game with several factors against them including the absence of Vinicius Jr. and the long injury list in defence. They did well in the first half to keep the ball out of the net with Thibaut Courtois putting up a sensational show.
In the end, however, goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo were enough to secure three points for Liverpool on a night where both Kylian Mbappe and Mohammed Salah missed penalties.
Madrid Universal brings you three talking points from Liverpool 2-0 Real Madrid.
Dominated and destroyed
The story of Real Madrid’s outing at Anfield is less about the result and more about the sheet manner in which they were outplayed for they never even looked at a team competing on the same level as Arne Slot’s men.
Los Blancos were missing key names through injury in the likes of Vinicius Jr., Eder Militao and Rodrygo but the XI the manager fielded on the night was not inferior in any sense.
A team with the quality of Kylian Mbappe, Eduardo Camavinga, Antonio Rudiger and Jude Bellingham, in no world, can be called a second-string side.
Yet, Liverpool walked all over the men in white last night and utterly dominated them for 90 minutes. They created more chances, the better chances and largely the only big chances at Anfield.
For long parts, the game was exclusively played in midfield or the Real Madrid box as the Merseyside club implemented a high-pressure system and did not allow the visitors any room to make attacking forays of their own. The statistics say it all.
In 90 minutes, Liverpool had a staggering 63% possession and created an xG of 2.73 while Real Madrid managed an xG of just 1.73 with their performance. Considering that the aforementioned number includes a penalty’s xG of 0.79, Los Blancos’ effective xG from open play was below 1.
Further, the English side had 17 shots, seven on target, hit the woodwork once and had a mind-boggling six big chances to Real Madrid’s two.
Kylian Mbappe is sinking
Kylian Mbappe has simply not been himself ever since he made the move to Real Madrid. Many blamed the change in position to be the primary hurdle in his path with the player reportedly fed up of starting at centre-forward.
The Frenchman’s confidence has thus been on a freefall in recent months and he has been a shadow of his former self both in front of goal and with his general contributions.
Last night was widely seen as his best chance to prove that he is still one of the best in the world, especially given Vinicius Jr.’s injury and that he would finally have the left flank to himself. Playing in his niche, however, he did not do himself any favours.
At no point in the game did the former PSG star look like a dominant force in attack or a leader for Real Madrid. His counterattacks were stopped with ease and he never got away from the Liverpool defence to create any threat.
His shots on goal were meek and the fact that the same player who scored three goals and converted three penalties in the FIFA World Cup final missed a penalty last night only goes to show how deep Mbappe is nestled in negativity.
The player is rightfully being pointed out as the culprit, for his equaliser would have given Los Blancos a new lease of life last night. The fact remains, however, that the chance of Real Madrid holding on even after an equaliser was slim given the overall performance.
Champions League catastrophe
The defending UEFA Champions League champions are staring at catastrophe in the competition they usually dominate as they are in dire straits after matchday 5.
After defeats to AC Milan, Lille and now Liverpool, Los Blancos have just two wins in five and are on six points after five games. Their dismal score has them in 24th place as it stands, on the brink of elimination in the group stage.
Real Madrid still have three games to go in the competition, all of which pose their own set of challenges. They are far from eliminated but are virtually guaranteed to finish outside the top eight now.
At this point, it is clear that Carlo Ancelotti’s side will have to go through playoffs and thus play two extra games to secure their place in the Round of 16. To get a favourable pairing, however, they must win their three remaining games.
Real Madrid next play Atalanta away from home in what will be another uphill challenge. They then host RB Salzburg at the Santiago Bernabeu before closing their league stage campaign against Brest away from home.
The men in white must step up soon for being so close to elimination from the first round does not sit well for a club of Real Madrid’s stature. The dream of defending the UCL crown is slowly but surely fading away.
Real Madrid’s international break was an eventful one, but not for the reasons one would expect. After all, the media has ensured that the club’s name stays in the limelight for all the wrong reasons, and it is clear that the pressure is now mounting on them.
Having gone two seasons without a major trophy, this was supposed to be the season Los Blancos got back on track and made their presence felt globally once more.
So far, however, they have not taken a single step towards that objective yet and have gone game after game just scraping by with three points.
With the first international break now past them, however, they have crossed the first milestone of the season and all eyes will now view them with higher scrutiny. Slow adaptation can no longer be the excuse.
Tomorrow, the club return from the international break and take on Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabeu, and it will be interesting to see if they can bounce back in La Liga with a win.
Madrid Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Real Madrid vs Villarreal.
Vinicius Jr. under heavy pressure
The season is only getting more complicated for Vinicius Jr. as the weeks pass, and it is now time one begins to wonder at what point the player will begin sinking.
Having already been in a slump in form over the past two seasons, the new campaign has begun disastrously for the Brazilian star as he no longer has the same impact in the final third for club or for country.
Vinicius was stellar at the FIFA World Cup, and many saw it to be the redemption arc for the player. He returned to Real Madrid, however, and resumed struggling once more.
Over the past few weeks, his performances have gone from bad to worse. Just when one thought the international break could be his redemption once more, he has only gone on and dropped an even poorer chain of displays with Brazil.
Against Australia and even India, the player looked absolutely uninspiring, lost for ideas and disconnected from the play. He now returns to Real Madrid even lower on morale, and it remains to be seen what Jose Mourinho makes of the situation.
Ahead of the international break, there was already talk of Yan Diomande potentially taking Vinicius’ starting spot on the left-flank with Arda Guler starting down the right.
If Vinicius cannot step up in the coming games, that theory may well end up becoming a reality.
Eyes on Kylian Mbappe
While Vinicius Jr. made the headlines in the international break for one reason, Kylian Mbappe caught the media’s attention for a different reason, but the Frenchman is also under the same pressure as his teammate.
Having left the French national team camp after suffering an injury, the player went on vacation with his friends and partner.
On vacation, he even put up clips of himself indulging in activities like cycling, which would be acceptable in any scenario except a world where he is suffering from a knee injury.
The development, needless to say, did not go down with Real Madrid fans, French fans, or the media, and a lot has been said about the player in recent days, including a massive smear campaign.
Mourinho knew of Mbappe’s vacation and even sanctioned the same, but fans cite Mbappe’s actions as a lack of professionalism and commitment to the club.
Mbappe has largely performed for Real Madrid this season, but he will be under pressure tomorrow once more as he must prove that he is indeed well and truly past his injury and that his small getaway did not affect his fitness.
After all, the period ahead will be challenging and will need Mbappe to be at his best week in and week out.
An unforgiving period ahead
Real Madrid lost their last game before the international break, which was against Atletico Madrid in the Madrid derby, and are currently six points behind Barcelona, who continue to sit on a perfect record.
What lies ahead of them across all competitions, however, is a serious challenge that could already make or break the club’s season.
Tomorrow’s game against Villarreal, in that sense, is just the start of a grueling month where Los Blancos have multiple high-stakes games against challenging opponents.
They take on AS Roma in the UEFA Champions League midweek in a tricky game, and then have an in-form Sevilla who are just two points behind them in the league standings. Thereafter, Real Madrid take on RB Leipzig and then FC Barcelona in La Liga.
Any slip-ups over the next month could see the team nine, or even potentially twelve, points behind Barcelona, who are showing no signs of slowing down. Getting on track, thus, is imperative.
After a slow start, it is thus high time Mourinho’s side wakes up andsmellsl the coffee, for there is no more time to waste. They have looked unconvincing for far too long, and it is now time to take matters in their own hands.
