Mac Allister Sinks Real Madrid To Ruin Alexander-arnold’s Return To Liverpool

Ultimately it was not astir who was backmost astatine Anfield but what was back. The Liverpool of Arne Slot’s title-winning debut play was nan reply and, for nan 2nd November successful succession, Real Madrid did not person 1 of their own.

Alexis Mac Allister opened nan scoring successful past season’s 2-0 conclusion of nan Spanish giants – though elephantine is not an meticulous explanation of their latest capacity connected Merseyside – and settled nan reunion of nan European heavyweights arsenic Liverpool, each controlled aggression and clear intent, ignited their Champions League run and rather perchance their season. Another cleanable expanse and set-piece extremity added to Slot’s restitution connected a raucous, reaffirming nighttime astatine Anfield. Xabi Alonso’s squad were a distant 2nd each night. Trent Alexander-Arnold, his mural adjacent Anfield vandalised earlier successful nan day, entered successful nan 81st infinitesimal to a chorus of boos.

Belief soared done Liverpool ranks pursuing a Champions League triumph complete nan Spanish giants 12 months ago, rolling into a Premier League triumph complete Sunday’s force Manchester City 4 days later and yet a 20th convention title. Slot was reluctant to tie comparisons pinch past season’s 2-0 triumph connected relationship of Real’s extended wounded database that nighttime and consequent changes successful unit astatine some clubs. Another quality went unsaid astatine his pre-match property conference. Liverpool went into that crippled pinch nan momentum of 13 wins from a 14-game unbeaten run. On this juncture it was 2 wins and six defeats successful 8 games. The grade of nan recovery against Aston Villa connected Saturday faced a existent introspection here. The signs were instantly encouraging for Slot.

Real did not get retired of their half for nan first 5 minutes arsenic Liverpool started pinch an strength and assurance that delighted nan Anfield crowd. Florian Wirtz was to nan fore connected his callback to nan starting lineup and created nan first chance of an absorbing title erstwhile dispossessing Dean Huijsen adjacent nan area flag. Alexis Mac Allister side-footed complete connected that occasion, to his evident disgust, but nan reside had been set.

Conor Bradley besides laid an early marker successful his individual conflict pinch Vinícius Júnior. Their duel captivated from nan commencement and, arsenic was nan lawsuit past November, nan Northern Ireland world thrived against nan illustrious names from Madrid. Last play he ignited nan Anfield crowd pinch a thunderous situation connected Kylian Mbappé. Now he engaged successful a moving feud pinch Vinícius that drove nan Brazilian to distraction astatine times. The Real guardant was booked for hauling down Bradley arsenic he surged into nan visiting half, showing fantabulous power of nan shot arsenic he did so, and later produced a pathetic dive wrong nan Liverpool area erstwhile accidentally, and lightly, touched successful nan look by nan afloat back.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was booed aft being introduced arsenic a substitute. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images/Reuters

“One Conor Bradley” reverberated astir nan stadium although, of course, for much logic than nan young defender’s finest show of nan season. His predecessor’s return to Anfield pursuing an acrimonious summertime exit added different intriguing subplot to nan evening. Alexander-Arnold was booed 3 times during nan warmup – erstwhile first emerging backmost connected to nan transportation he erstwhile called home, erstwhile his sanction was announced among nan Real substitutes and erstwhile heading backmost down nan tunnel. It was not precisely an intimidating reception. The erstwhile favourite recovered clip for a bully laughter pinch Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo earlier pleasantries were put aside.

Liverpool would person led but for their shade from nan 2022 Champions League final, Thibaut Courtois, haunting them again conscionable arsenic he did successful Paris. Wirtz seized connected a sloppy touch by Huijsen to break free down nan correct and squared perfectly for Dominik Szoboszlai arsenic he arrived unmarked successful nan area. Szoboszlai connected cleanly but Courtois dispersed himself superbly to prevention astatine point-blank scope pinch his leg.

Liverpool’s disbelief turned to disgust erstwhile Szoboszlai adjacent took purpose astatine nan Real goal. The midfielder’s thrust from 22 yards retired struck Aurélien Tchouaméni connected nan manus arsenic he dived successful to block. The referee Istvan Kovacs initially awarded a free-kick connected nan separator of nan area but nan France world was intelligibly wrong erstwhile making interaction pinch nan ball. A spot-kick appeared imminent erstwhile Kovacs was sent to nan pitch-side show by nan video adjunct referee but he rejected nan punishment declare and overturned nan free-kick. Tchouaméni’s arms were successful a earthy position, apparently. Anfield reacted pinch understandable fury.

The contention emboldened Slot’s broadside much than nan Spanish convention leaders. Giorgi Mamardashvili saved from Jude Bellingham and Arda Guler successful speedy succession but Courtois remained nan busier keeper by far. Szoboszlai was denied doubly by Real’s number 1 earlier nan break, Mac Allister was foiled too, and Courtois’ one-man guidelines against Liverpool continued aft nan restart. Virgil van Dijk could only laughter erstwhile his close-range header from a Wirtz area was tipped over. Courtois repeated nan workout erstwhile nan resulting area from Szoboszlai was headed goalwards by Hugo Ekitiké.

But Courtois’ guidance was yet surgery aft Bellingham conceded a free-kick pinch a foul connected Ryan Gravenberch, for which he was booked. Szoboszlai swept complete a powerful set-piece from nan correct – Alexander-Arnold mightiness person taken it had he stayed – and Mac Allister collapsed free successful a crowded area to slug a header done nan goalkeeper’s guard. VAR intervened again to cheque a imaginable offside against nan goalscorer. Anfield would not beryllium enraged this time.