Mohamed Salah warming up previous to Liverpool vs Actual Madrid. (Picture by Justin Setterfield/Getty Pictures)
It took simply three minutes for Liverpool to return inside inches of opening the scoring towards Actual Madrid and, predictably, Mohamed Salah was on the centre of the motion.
In a conflict of European titans — with 21 Champions League titles between the 2 golf equipment mixed — there was an expectant temper round Anfield previous to kick-off.
Important supply seemingly: Liverpool rival Manchester United for sophisticated La Liga star!
Liverpool haven’t fared nicely towards Los Blancos in latest instances, nonetheless, with the Reds dropping seven and drawing certainly one of their final eight conferences, together with two Champions League finals.
However given the contrasting begins to their two seasons, Liverpool have been undoubtedly pre-match favourites on house soil.
Mohamed Salah leaves Kylian Mbappe red-faced
Actual Madrid have been tasked with some last-ditch defending after simply three minutes, with Darwin Nunez getting in on purpose.
The Uruguayan’s shot was saved by Thibaut Courtois however the ball was nonetheless heading towards purpose till 21-year-old centre-back Raul Asencio slid in for the goalline clearance.
Check out the shot right here courtesy of TNT Sports activities:
An unbelievable save however an excellent higher goalline clearance to disclaim Liverpool early on ?
? @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/PxFJP6mNNg
— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) November 27, 2024
Naturally, it was Mohamed Salah who began the counter-attack, stealing the ball off fellow attacking icon Kylian Mbappe and firing the ball ahead to his strike associate.
“What a transfer!” declared Sky Sports activities pundit Paul Merson. “Salah nicked the ball off Mbappe.
“It was a fantastic save from Nunez after which it was a superb clearance.”
Liverpool will hope Nunez can discover his capturing boots after lacking one other close-range likelihood as they give the impression of being to beat Actual Madrid for the primary time since March 2009.
The early indicators are good and in a match branded by some as Salah vs Mbappe, it’s the previous who has the sting to date.