Liverpool revenge on Real Madrid: Mbappe misses penalty

Liverpool defeated Real Madrid 2-0 on Wednesday after Kylian Mbappe’s penalty was saved. It was Real Madrid’s third Champions League loss in five matches.

After Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo scored in the second half, the Reds retained their spotless record and returned to the top. Liverpool won 17 of Arne Slot’s first 19 games, despite Mohamed Salah’s missed penalty.

Slot has defeated the Spanish titans, something Jurgen Klopp failed to do. Madrid have won eight straight matches against Liverpool, including Champions League finals in 2018 and 2022.

“You know how special it is to play against a club that won this Champions League so many times, are the reigning champions and were a pain in the ass for Liverpool many times as well,” he remarked.

Carlo Ancelotti’s team drops to 24th after losing. Only 24 advance to the knockout stage, with eight going straight to the last 16.

Liverpool are eight points clear at the top of the Premier League and showed confidence throughout in front of a packed Anfield crowd. Madrid traveled to England without Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, Aurelien Tchouameni, and David Alaba due to injuries.

Those omissions forced young centre-back Raul Asencio to make a crucial goal-line clearing on four minutes. Salah threw Darwin Nunez in behind the Madrid defense, and although Thibaut Courtois saved his shot, Asencio saved the rebound from going into his own net.

Courtois was Liverpool’s bad guy in the final two years ago when Madrid won 1-0 in Paris. The Belgian was at his best again, blocking another Nunez shot from point-blank range as Liverpool pressured without result before halftime.

‘DIFFICULT TIME’ FOR MBAPPE

Courtois again saved Conor Bradley’s header at the start of the second half.

Liverpool were not denied as Bradley set up Mac Allister for a 52-minute strike into the far corner. The visitors relied on Mbappe for magic without Vinicius, but Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk kept him in check.

He had his chance to silence his detractors on the hour mark when Andy Robertson was ruled to have tripped Lucas Vazquez inside the area. In the absence of Alisson Becker, Caoimhin Kelleher saved Mbappe’s spot-kick to his left.

“Kylian is struggling,” Ancelotti added. “We have to be patient with him, he is an exceptional player.”

Salah’s unhappiness at Liverpool’s contract refusal caused a stir before the game.

The Egyptian has been in great form this season, and his speed and cleverness confused Ferland Mendy. Salah’s penalty off the post gave Madrid a lifeline. Liverpool got a second goal six minutes later as substitute Gakpo headed home Robertson’s cross beyond Courtois.