Arne Slot led Liverpool to a fantastic win over Real Madrid (Image: TNT Sports)
Arne Slot has admitted that Real Madrid were a ‘pain in the a**’ for Liverpool before their 2-0 Champions League triumph on Wednesday evening.
The Reds had gone eight straight games without getting the better of Los Blancos, with their most-recent win coming in 2009. Goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo put that right this time round, sending Liverpool top of the European table with a perfect record of five wins, zero draws and zero defeats.
After the game, Slot admitted that Real had been a thorn in his new club’s side for years – albeit before he took the reins from Jurgen Klopp this summer.
“I wouldn’t say it’s the same as any other game because we know how special it is to play against the club that has won the Champions League so many times, and the reigning champions as well,” the Dutchman told TNT Sports.
“They were a pain in the a** for Liverpool many times as well, so we knew it was a big week. Not only the result, but also the way we played – it’s pleasing to see.”
Liverpool have now won six straight games in all competitions, with Slot opening up an eight-point gap over Manchester City in the Premier League title race, leading the way in the Champions League and battling through to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
Carlo Ancelotti and Real Madrid have had Liverpool’s number in recent years (Image: Getty)
The Merseysiders were expected to go through a tricky transition period in the wake of Klopp’s departure, but Slot has taken to life in England like a duck to water. And the ex-Feyenoord head coach is relieved that his new players have adapted to the new style of play so swiftly.
“If you start at a new club, you want to implement your playing style as quickly as possible,” Slot explained. “That was not so difficult because the playing style is so similar to Jurgen’s, especially without the ball.
“There are certain details, maybe with the ball, that we do a bit differently. It’s very pleasing to see not only the starters but also the players on the bench today, if they are in the starting line-up they do the same.”
Liverpool are already in control of their own destiny, but they can make a real statement of Premier League intent this Sunday when they host City at Anfield. The reigning champions are on a dreadful run of form, losing five matches on the spin before surrendering a three-goal lead to draw with Slot’s former club, Feyenoord, on Tuesday.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1981727/liverpool-arne-slot-real-madrid-anfield-champions-league