Liverpool laid some demons to rest on Wednesday night as they beat Real Madrid in the Champions League.
The Reds have been handed some tough evenings by the Spanish giants over recent years but exacted a small slice of revenge this time.
While a League Phase win over a depleted Madrid does not make up for two Champions League finals lost since 2018, it does at least end Liverpool’s 15-year wait for a win over Los Blancos.
One of their biggest adversaries during their battles with Madrid has been goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Courtois was man of the match in the 2022 final, keeping out Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah as if his life depended on it.
And while the former Chelsea man was in decent form at Anfield on Wednesday, he couldn’t stop goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo. Speaking after the game, Courtois gave his reaction.
Thibaut Courtois player of Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid C.F. at...
Photo by Antonio Villalba/Real Madrid via Getty Images
Thibaut Courtois makes Anfield claim
Courtois will likely never have a better game than he did against Liverpool in Paris two years ago.
The Belgian was like a man possessed as he kept out wave after wave of Reds’ attacks.
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At Anfield, though, Courtois likely knew it might be a different story. He has visited the stadium to play Liverpool seven times for Chelsea and Madrid, winning twice.
And speaking to realmadrid.com after Wednesday night’s loss, Courtois admitted that playing the Reds at their own home is ‘always difficult.’
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“Liverpool are one of the most in-form teams in Europe at the moment and playing here is always difficult,” said the 32-year-old.
“We competed and defended well, especially in the first half, but offensively things didn’t work out for us and we struggled to create danger. We couldn’t define the counterattacks with the final pass and that makes it difficult. In the second half they quickly went 1-0 up and unfortunately we missed the penalty. We kept trying, but after the second goal it was already difficult.
“We lacked a bit of play,” added Courtois. “We played better in the second half, but they finished well.”
Liverpool supporters acknowledge Courtois
Courtois has been a worthy adversary for Liverpool over the years. After the final of 2022, Reds supporters would be within their rights to wish him the very worst.
Nevertheless, Liverpool supporters tend to rise above such things and this was on full show once again on Wednesday.
Games W D L Goals Conceded
Chelsea 8 3 4 1 7
Real Madrid 6 4 1 1 5
Total 14 7 5 2 12
Thibaut Courtois record vs Liverpool
Despite the fact that he has been a thorn in their side on the biggest stage of all, Liverpool fans applauded Courtois as he headed towards the Kop for the second-half.
The Reds’ tradition of clapping opposition ‘keepers is not to everyone’s taste, but we think it’s always a nice touch.
Courtois clearly holds a great deal of respect for Anfield, anyway, and that just about says it all.
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