Liverpool manager Arne Slot says he likes what he saw from his team after they recorded a solid 2-0 win over current UEFA Champions League holders Real Madrid at Anfield on Wednesday night, Afrosport reports.
Second-half goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo was more than enough to give the Reds all three points and maintain their 100% record atop the league standings.
Slot however stated that it was difficult to judge the importance of the win owing to the nature of the newly-formed league phase which players and coaches are still trying to come to grips with.
“I liked a lot what I saw. Of course, not everything. I think we controlled the first half with creating a few chances but I also thought we were still a bit sloppy so we lost the ball in very easy situations, or we forced it a bit too much,” Slot said.
“And I said ‘try to be even more patient, let the gaps open up instead of forcing them’. And yeah, then it helps if the first seven minutes after half-time, I think we had total dominance, they even didn’t come across our halfway line. Yeah, then if you score a goal like this, then we were flying if you want to put it like this.
“I think it’s always good to win a game and especially a big game like this because you know you face so many quality players. For me, it would even mean more if we go into the later stages of the tournament because this is such a strange and different set-up in the Champions League that it’s difficult to judge how important these wins are.
“If we arrive in the last 16, or quarter-finals, or wherever we can arrive to or we face them again and then we’re able to beat them, that would be a bigger statement than this. But we are definitely happy with the win, let that be clear.”
5 – Liverpool are just the fifth side to win their opening five games of UEFA Champions League campaign and concede no more than one goal in the process, after Milan (92-93), Juventus (04-05), Atlético Madrid (16-17) and PSG (17-18). Touch. pic.twitter.com/x6BhZDOUGx
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 27, 2024
Liverpool will turn their attention to the Premier League clash against title rivals Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday, hoping to go 11 points clear of the Citizens.
