Liverpool vs Real Madrid LIVE: Champions League result and final score from Anfield blockbuster

A few weeks ago, it was possible to look at Arne Slot’s seemingly impressive start at Liverpool, adopt a sceptical tone and ask who they had really beaten. And now an eloquent answer can be provided in two words: Real Madrid. The kings of Europe, to borrow Pep Guardiola’s phrase, the Champions League holders, the side even Jurgen Klopp never beat.

Some 19 games into his reign, Slot has 17 wins. He already has two great Anfield European nights, the champions of first Germany and now Spain defeated, and Liverpool top the Champions League, their claim to be the best team in the continent right now reinforced not merely by victory but by the manner of it. More energetic and more ambitious than Real, they overcame them for the first time in 15 years.

They did so with starring roles from two of Slot’s understudies.

Alexis Mac Allister has dismissed claims that Liverpool are favourites to win the Champions League, stressing that there is still a lot of work to do this season.

“It is nice but at the same time it means nothing,” he told TNT Sports. “It is just the first phase. We are happy with our performances and that is the most important thing. We keep going.”

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand his pegged Liverpool as the his favourites to win both the Premier League and Champions League this season.

“Before a ball is kicked on the weekend, if you had to put your money on a team to win the Premier League and the Champions League, Liverpool are favourites,” he told TNT Sports.

“Not saying they will, but they’re favourites and that means there’s confidence brewing here. You can feel the anticipation before a ball is even kicked in the stadium.

“There’s a confidence from the fans and the players and there seems to be a quiet authority with an without the ball. They look in a real good state at the moment and will meet Man City at the perfect time for them.”

Jude Bellingham has insisted Kylian Mbappe’s missed penalty was not the decisive factor in Real Madrid’s loss to Liverpool tonight.

“I think to be fair, from the first minute they took control of the game,” he told TNT Sports. “We never took advantage of our spells in the game, we tried to force it and turned the ball over too many times. I thought they were more up for it, which was disappointing.

“It’s a bad result against probably the best-performing team in Europe. There is no disgrace in losing here but we are not happy with it.

“The penalty is a big moment in the game, but he’s wonderful player and the pressure he holds his huge. The penalty is not the reason he lost the game, they were better than us. Kylian can hold his head high, he is going to produce many moments that are huge for this club.”

Arne Slot is fully aware of just how special tonight’s result is for Liverpool, having endured years of heartache at the hands of Real Madrid.

He said: “I wouldn’t say it’s the same as any other win because you know how special it is to beat this team, who have dominated Europe in recent years and been a pain in the arse for Liverpool as well! We say it is a big week, but we have a big week next week too.

“When you start at a new club, you want to implement your playing style as quickly as possible, which is not so different from Jurgen, especially without the ball. With the ball, we have changed some details but not too many.

“I felt we were too impatient in the first half, every time they threatened us was from us forcing it or being sloppy. I said at half-time that there is more in us, that we can play with more intensity and use the ball better.”

Next up for Liverpool, it’s a Premier League clash of titans. They take on an out-of-form Manchester City in a game that could have massive ramifications on the title race come May.

For Caoimhin Kelleher, tonight’s win over Real Madrid brings exactly the sort of confidence booster the team could have dreamed of going into such a game.

“I think confidence is high in the whole squad,” he said. “Man City, we know they have had a tough few results but what a team. We expect a really tough test but this is good confidence for the team and we will go again.”

Alexis Mac Allister has hailed Caoimhin Kelleher’s contributions in a ‘deserved’ Liverpool win.

“When you play against teams like Real Madrid, it’s always nice to score,” he said. “But the most important thing is that we won it, and in a really good way. We dominated and we deserved this.

“We needed this guy [Kelleher] a couple of times, but thank god that he’s there.”

The best team in Europe right now? It’s hard to make a case for anyone else apart from Liverpool right now.

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