Liverpool Secures Perfect Start In Champions League With Victory Over Real Madrid

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Arne Slot expressed surprise at Liverpool's impressive start to the season following their 2-0 victory over Real Madrid. The Reds have maintained a flawless record in the Champions League, winning all five matches so far. This marks their best European campaign start since the 2021-22 season. Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo scored in the second half, securing Liverpool's win against the defending champions.

Slot acknowledged that Liverpool's current performance exceeds his expectations. "I didn't have a schedule in terms of the amount of points I wanted," he told TNT Sports. He emphasised the importance of quickly implementing their playing style, which closely resembles Jurgen Klopp's approach. Slot praised both starting players and substitutes for meeting expectations.

Liverpool also leads the Premier League by eight points, yet Slot remains cautious about setting specific targets. He admitted that if he had predicted points before the season, they would not have matched their current tally. The victory over Madrid ended an eight-game winless streak against them, with Madrid winning seven of those encounters.

The Dutch manager highlighted the significance of facing a team with multiple Champions League titles. "They were a pain in the ass for Liverpool for many years too," he added, noting how special it is to compete against such formidable opponents.

Caoimhin Kelleher played a crucial role by saving Kylian Mbappe's penalty when Liverpool led 1-0. Mohamed Salah also missed a penalty later, marking only his second miss out of seven attempts in this competition. Slot commented on these moments, saying both misses showed that even top players are human.

Kelleher has now saved three out of four penalties faced for Liverpool outside shoot-outs, providing strong competition for Alisson as he recovers from injury. Slot praised Kelleher's performance against Mbappe and acknowledged his contributions alongside another remarkable goalkeeper in their squad.

Liverpool will now focus on their upcoming match against Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday, aiming to continue their impressive form in both domestic and European competitions.