Anfield Watch
·27 November 2024
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Yahoo sportsAnfield Watch
·27 November 2024
Anfield was buzzing as a firing Liverpool welcomed Real Madrid in the Champions League.
This was a Real Madrid that had been battered by injuries and Carlo Ancelotti was very much forced to field a weakened side.
However, take nothing away from Liverpool, Arne Slot's side dominated the European champions and gave very little away.
And it's important to mention this was a Liverpool side also missing key players. Alisson and Diogo Jota would arguably be starters in this team.
Meanwhile, Trent Alexander-Arnold was only fit enough for the bench meaning Conor Bradley had to step in his place, and he stepped up indeed coming up against Kylian Mbapppe.
The England international was heavily linked with a move to Liverpool before he signed for Real Madrid.
It's probably not a move he regrets, Bellingham has done quite alright for Madrid since arriving at the club and has won plenty of team and individual accolades.
But on a special night like this at Anfield, maybe he does have second doubts. He certainly seemed to take in the moment prior to kick off, taking an extra look at the pitch he might have called home.
Rafael Nadal seems to be enjoying his retirement in style. The Spanish tennis legend is a huge Real Madrid fan, despite his uncle playing for Barcelona and he was in the crowd at Anfield watching his favourite team.
Although he won't have gotten much joy from this game. This was a pretty frustrating performance from Real Madrid.
And a pretty cold night at Anfield. We can certainly think of better ways to spend our retirement than standing around in the freezing cold.
Whatever you think about his missed penalty on the night, Salah has been fundamental to Liverpool's success this season, and he keeps getting better season after season in a red shirt.
But much of the conversation has centred around not his performances on the pitch but his contract situation.
Salah's contract is expiring at the end of the season and so far there has been no sign of a new deal being in the works. Salah's comments against Southampton suggested as such.
However, Liverpool fans have sent an emphatic message to FSG in this game. They've once again brought out the banner in the Kop reading: Give Mo, his dough.
And they are right, it's time to pay up FSG.
Liverpool had very little to complain about in this game against Real Madrid. The only thing they will rue is not scoring enough goals.
In fairness, it should have been a much more comfortable score line. Salah could have ensured that with his penalty, but he completely scuffed it with a terrible kick that didn't even hit the target.
That's pretty unlike Salah and as the TNT cameras zoomed in on his family in the stands you could tell from their reactions as well they were completely shocked.
Salah will probably be thinking about that tonight. But at the end of the day it doesn't matter. When you beat the European Champions you can't complain much.