Liverpool player ratings vs Real Madrid: 9/10 runs the show with Reds regular under threat | Football | Sport
Liverpool made it five Champions League wins from five to go top of the table with a superb 2-0 win over Real Madrid at Anfield.
Alexis Mac Allister bossed the game and put the Reds in front before substitute Cody Gakpo headed home a second in the 76th minute. Arne Slot‘s side were perfectly deserving of their victory but the scoreline could have looked a lot different, with Kylian Mbappe and Mohamed Salah both fluffing their lines from the spot.
There were tremendous performances all over the pitch for the hosts, and while Mac Allister was the pick of the bunch, Conor Bradley caught the eye with a display which showed Trent Alexander-Arnold that he may have to start looking over his shoulder.
Here, Express Sport takes you through how each Liverpool player performed on the night…
Liverpool player ratings (4-2-3-1)
Caoimhin Kelleher: 8
Had nothing to do until Mbappe put the ball on the spot. Sprung brilliantly to his left to deny the Frenchman and then made a couple of decent stops late on.
Conor Bradley: 8
A real coming-of-age performance against a player like Mbappe. Anfield loved his crunching tackle on the World Cup winner. He was aggressive throughout and came up with a nice assist for Mac Allister. Alexander-Arnold is coming to the end of his Liverpool contract and Slot already has a ready-made replacement.
Ibrahima Konate: 7
A wall at the back, Konate produced a great block in the first half to stop Luka Modric’s cross and halt a dangerous Real attack.
Virgil van Dijk: 7
Got away with a sloppy pass which went straight to Arda Guler early on, but like the rest of his team-mates, grew in confidence as the match progressed. Van Dijk was purring by the end and his cross-field ball is a sight to behold.
Andrew Robertson: 6
Put the result in jeopardy with a clumsy tackle on Lucas Vazquez in the second half. A penalty was awarded but Kelleher bailed him out. Robertson made amends with a gorgeous cross for Gakpo to head in Liverpool‘s second.
Ryan Gravenberch: 6 (booked)
A steady display but his midfield sidekicks did most of the eye-catching work.
Alexis Mac Allister: 9 (booked)
The best player on the pitch. He couldn’t miss with accurate balls into the box, one of which was headed just wide by Darwin Nunez and the other nodded on target by Bradley. Took his goal brilliantly and went toe-to-toe with Jude Bellingham. The booking means he will miss Liverpool‘s trip to Girona next month.
The Egyptian was ganged up on by Real defenders but he always produces a moment – this time it was to turn Ferland Mendy inside out and win a penalty. His mark would have been higher if he didn’t smash it wide.
Curtis Jones: 7 (Dominik Szoboszlai, 83)
Nothing particularly spectacular from Jones but it is evident that he is full of confidence and remains untouchable in Slot’s starting line-up.
Luis Diaz: 6
Curiously quiet night for the Colombian. Liverpool were the better side but the midfielders and defenders shone brightest.
Darwin Nunez: 6 (booked) (Gakpo, 67)
A predictably mixed bag from Nunez, who combined silly fouls and missed chances with ferocious defensive work and non-stop running.
SUBS
Cody Gakpo: 7
Rose high in the box to put the game to bed. Set up a great chance for Diaz late on. Big impact from the sub.
Dominik Szoboszlai: N/A
A late addition.
