Moments you may not have spotted during - and after - Liverpool's Champions League game against Real Madrid on Wednesday
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Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham with Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch after the Champions League clash at Anfield on November 27 2024
Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham with Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch after the Champions League clash at Anfield on November 27 2024
(Image: TNT Sports)
Liverpool maintained their impressive start to the season with an emphatic victory over European champions Real Madrid on Wednesday evening. Alexis Mac Allister and substitute Cody Gakpo struck in the second half as the Reds triumphed 2-0 for their first success over the Spaniards in more than 15 years.
The result means Arne Slot's side have now won all five games in the Champions League opening stage and stand top of the table having effectively secured progress to the knockout stages and become strong favourites to finish in the top eight and avoid the play-off round.
But there was plenty that went unnoticed or under the radar during the 90 minutes at Anfield and afterwards...
READ MORE: Liverpool man on a different level to Jude Bellingham as Real Madrid distraction clearREAD MORE: 'Entry to hell' - Kylian Mbappe ripped apart by Spanish media after Real Madrid loss to Liverpool
Jude isn't rude
This was a first experience for Jude Bellingham of playing at Anfield. And he's unlikely to forget it any time soon given the manner in which he became a sideshow compared to the Liverpool midfield powerhouses of Mac Allister, Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch.
Nevertheless, the England international decided he wanted a memento of the occasion and was spotted outside the Liverpool dressing room after the game asking Gravenberch if he could get hold of the jersey of his close friend Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was an unused substitute for the Reds.
To be fair, he was perhaps also introducing himself to the Dutchman. After all, he hadn't got anywhere near him all evening.
Nunez on the turn
Bellingham should have known what was coming after being on the receiving end of an outrageous piece of skill from Darwin Nunez during the first half.
The Reds striker, on defensive duties near his own penalty area, produced his version of a Cruyff turn to move away from the Real Madrid man, much to the delight of the home crowd.
From being decked by Raul Asencio to giving Caoimhin Kelleher a massive chest bump after saving Kylian Mbappe's penalty, it was just another routine night for the Uruguayan.
Bradley boob
What a night for Conor Bradley, whose tackle on Kylian Mbappe has already acquired almost mythical status. Hang it in the Louvre, as they say.
But there was one amusing moment when even the right-back appeared to get it a little bit wrong when, in possession near the halfway line, he seemed to eye up a pass to Gakpo.
The only problem was the Dutchman, standing on the touchline, hadn't yet come on as substitute. Cue Bradley appearing to realise his error a little too late before scuffing the ball out of play. Not that anyone was talking about it after the final whistle. Until now.
Killing Mbappe
Over in Spain, Real Madrid supporters took the defeat in far greater humour than their media. And that could mean only one thing: lots and lots of lovely memes.
The pick of the bunch saw Mbappe - his face planted in the floor - join Ferland Mendy - twisting and turning as he fouled Mohamed Salah for Liverpool's missed penalty - for a good old boogie on the dancefloor.
The repeated message, though, was one of Mbappe being in danger of becoming as much a flop as Eden Hazard at the Bernabeu. Mind you, given how well Hazard routinely played at Anfield, that might have been useful for the European Super League advocates on the night.