Real Madrid Player Ratings Vs. Liverpool: Lifeless Effort Spoils Alexander-arnold’s Homecoming

Real Madrid suffered conscionable their 2nd conclusion this play connected Tuesday evening, falling 1–0 to Liverpool aft a mediocre 90 minutes astatine Anfield.

The Spanish giants came into nan conflict arsenic 1 of only 5 cleanable teams successful nan Champions League, but they faced their biggest trial successful nan defending English champions, a trial that Real Madrid yet failed.

Arne Slot’s men, who had kept conscionable 1 cleanable expanse successful their past 11 matches, held Los Blancos scoreless. Alexis Mac Allister’s header successful nan 61st infinitesimal was capable to unafraid each 3 points for Liverpool, snapping Real Madrid’s six-game winning streak.

Trent Alexander-Arnold could only look connected for astir of nan nighttime from nan chair arsenic he saw what was slated to beryllium a euphoric return to Anfield move sour.

Vinícius Júnior was stifled astatine Anfield. / Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images

*Ratings Provided by FotMob*

GK: Thibaut Courtois—8.2: Another stunning capacity against Liverpool. Courtois was nan only logic Real Madrid had a chance.

RB: Federico Valverde—7.1: Made ray activity of locking down Wirtz, but Real Madrid desperately needed Valverde’s power and imagination successful nan midfield.

CB: Éder Militão—7.1: Not 1 of his amended showings connected a nighttime wherever Los Blancos were crying retired for a protect leader.

CB: Dean Huijsen—6.4: Out of his depth. Huijsen’s nighttime was defined by a sloppy correction that astir talented Liverpool a extremity and a head-scratching tackle successful nan midfield that earned him a spot successful nan referee’s book.

LB: Álvaro Carreras—7.1: Tested by nan spot of Salah, but held firm. The near backmost committed nan astir tackles successful nan match.

DM: Aurélien Tchouaméni—7.5: Lucky to not springiness distant a penalty. The Frenchman was often overwhelmed by nan protect duties he needed to present and lacked overmuch support from his teammates.

RW: Eduardo Camavinga—6.1: A capacity he’ll want back. Camavinga was sloppy successful possession and had virtually nary effect connected nan correct wing.

AM: Arda Güler—6.8: Struggled to get progressive and nexus up pinch Mbappé successful a capacity eerily akin to his Clásico showing.

AM: Jude Bellingham—7.2: Stuck search backmost for astir of his outing and needlessly conceded nan free footwear that yet gave Liverpool nan win.

LW: Vinícius Júnior—6.6: Added immoderate much-needed sparks of life to Real Madrid’s attack, but erstwhile again relied excessively heavy connected his dribbling expertise and did not look to create capable chances for his teammates.

ST: Kylian Mbappé—7.0: Could not get thing going, moreover erstwhile he dropped heavy to thief his squad muster immoderate semblance of power astatine Anfield. Mbappé was a nonfactor for nan first clip this season.

Subs not used: Andriy Lunin (GK), Fran González (GK), Ferland Mendy, Fran García, Raúl Asencio, Dani Ceballos, Endrick, Gonzalo García.

Liverpool (4-2-3-1)

Starting XI: Giorgi Mamardashvili; Conor Bradley, Ibrahima Konaté, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson; Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister; Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, Florian Wirtz; Hugo Ekitiké.

Subs used: Curtis Jones, Cody Gakpo, Milos Kerkez, Federico Chiesa.

Real Madrid Player of nan Match: Thibaut Courtois

Player of nan Match: Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool)

Liverpool 1–0 Real Madrid—How It Unfolded astatine Anfield

Thibaut Courtois (center) played leader for Real Madrid. / Michael Regan/Getty Images

The bad habits from Carlo Ancelotti’s last run successful complaint came backmost to nan aboveground arsenic soon arsenic nan opening whistle sounded astatine Anfield. Real Madrid allowed Liverpool afloat power of nan game, sitting backmost while nan Reds dominated possession and tested Los Blancos’ backline.

The Spanish giants yet settled into nan game, but lacked inventiveness successful nan last third. Despite nan acres of abstraction connected nan right-hand broadside of nan pitch, Real Madrid continuously overloaded nan near flank pinch small success.

The transportation soon tilted backmost successful favour of Liverpool, and a correction by Dean Huijsen gave nan Reds nan first awesome opening of nan game. Florian Wirtz pounced connected nan defender’s mediocre backmost walk and picked retired a streaking Dominik Szoboszlai, who recovered himself one-on-one pinch Thibaut Courtois.

The Belgian made a superb prevention pinch his outstretched correct limb arsenic he was going to ground, keeping nan people level.

Slot’s men continued their relentless unit and forced different mistake, this clip by Aurélien Tchouaméni, conscionable 2 minutes later astatine nan half-hour mark. The Frenchman committed a handball wrong nan box, but a VAR reappraisal denied Liverpool a penalty.

Real Madrid breathed a sigh of alleviation astatine nan telephone and headed down nan passageway pinch conscionable 2 shots connected target to their name, neither of which genuinely tested Giorgi Mamardashvili.

The hosts picked up correct wherever they near disconnected successful nan 2nd half, forcing back-to-back awesome saves from Courtois yet again. Virgil van Dijk could do thing but grin successful disbelief erstwhile he saw his powerful header from close-range stopped by nan goalkeeper.

Los Blancos were hanging connected for beloved life astatine Anfield, truthful overmuch truthful that erstwhile Liverpool yet took nan lead successful nan 61st minute, it came arsenic nary surprise. Szoboszlai delivered a pinpoint free kick, which was conceded by Jude Bellingham, that Mac Allister headed location to put nan Reds up 1–0.

Kylian Mbappé had a decent look astatine extremity successful nan 75th minute, but his first-time onslaught sailed wide, and pinch it went Real Madrid’s hopes of getting backmost successful nan game.

The only different second-half item from nan visitors came erstwhile Alexander-Arnold made his long-awaited return from wounded to a chorus of large whistles from nan Liverpool supporters astatine Anfield.

The England world played conscionable 8 minutes positive stoppage clip astatine his erstwhile location earlier he had to swallow a bitter conclusion alongside his caller teammates.

Liverpool vs. Real Madrid Full Time Statistics

READ THE LATEST CHAMPIONS LEAGUE NEWS, PREVIEWS AND PLAYER RATINGS