Image Credits: Imago Images
Arne Slot has heaped praise on his side with two players in particular now getting fitter according to the Dutchman.
The match seemed destined to remain goalless heading into the final hour, with Real Madrid’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois producing a vintage display reminiscent of his man-of-the-match performance in the 2022 Champions League final when he denied Liverpool.
A handball incident in the opening period, where Aurélien Tchouaméni appeared to clearly deny a Dominik Szoboszlai effort inside the box, looked set to have shifted the match decisively when the referee initially indicated a penalty.
Yet VAR intervened, ruling that Tchouaméni’s arms were in a natural position—a decision that would prove contentious in post-match analysis. This reprieve seemed to energize the Madrid backline temporarily, though in truth, Liverpool’s control rarely wavered
The breakthrough arrived in the 61st minute, and it came from a familiar source.
Alexis Mac Allister, who had haunted Real Madrid with a goal against them twelve months prior, rose unmarked to meet a Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick with a powerful glancing header.
It marks two excellent games for the Argentinean, who finally seems to be back to near his best form after a slow start to the campaign.
When quizzed on Mac Allister getting back to his best after the game, Slot also mentioned that Conor Bradley is likewise getting fitter and hopes the pair continue in this way:
“Yes, but I don’t think he’s the only one. I just spoke about Conor Bradley, who now – I think for the first time in a long time – played twice 90 minutes in three days. The same is to be said about Macca,” Slot said in his post-match press conference.
“All the players they need a bit of time, sometimes to adjust to the Premier League, sometimes to adjust to the limited rest we’ve had and then in other leagues I think 15 to 20 games in almost any league if you are a big club are ‘easy wins’.”
“But in the Premier League there’s never an easy win, that is something you need to adjust to as well.”
“If you miss pre-season or if you come from a different league, or if you’re a bit younger, than these are things you need to adjust to.”
“Conor Bradley has only played 30, 40 games for us and Macca is, after Villa and also by the way against [Crystal] Palace where he had a decent performance, he and the team are getting fitter and fitter. That is the first step we have to make for us to get results.”
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