Ultimately it was not about who was back at Anfield but what was back. The Liverpool of Arne Slot’s title-winning debut season was the answer and, for the second November in succession, Real Madrid did not have one of their own.
Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring in last season’s 2-0 defeat of the Spanish giants – though giant is not an accurate description of their latest performance on Merseyside – and settled the reunion of the European heavyweights as Liverpool, all controlled aggression and clear intent, ignited their Champions League campaign and quite possibly their season. Another clean sheet and set-piece goal added to Slot’s satisfaction on a raucous, reaffirming night at Anfield. Xabi Alonso’s team were a distant second all night. Trent Alexander-Arnold, his mural near Anfield vandalised earlier in the day, entered in the 81st minute to a chorus of boos.
Belief soared through Liverpool ranks following a Champions League win over the Spanish giants 12 months ago, rolling into a Premier League win over Sunday’s opponent Manchester City four days later and ultimately a 20th league title. Slot was reluctant to draw comparisons with last season’s 2-0 victory on account of Real’s extensive injury list that night and subsequent changes in personnel at both clubs. Another difference went unsaid at his pre-match press conference. Liverpool went into that game with the momentum of 13 wins from a 14-game unbeaten run. On this occasion it was two wins and six defeats in eight games. The extent of the recovery against Aston Villa on Saturday faced a true examination here. The signs were immediately encouraging for Slot.
