“I was absolutely delighted” – Arne Slot in his press conference following Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Real Madrid.
“I thoroughly enjoyed it” – Arne Slot on his press conference after Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Real Madrid.
“I really enjoyed it,” said Arne Slot after his Liverpool team secured a 2-0 victory over reigning Champions League holders Real Madrid at Anfield.
The Reds extended their flawless run in the group stage to five consecutive wins on Wednesday night, with second-half goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo sealing the triumph.
Slot’s side earned the result in a gripping encounter that featured Caoimhin Kelleher’s crucial penalty save against Kylian Mbappe and Mohamed Salah narrowly missing from the spot.
Here’s the head coach’s perspective on the match, shared during his post-match press conference:
On evaluating Liverpool’s performance…
“I was pleased with much of what I saw, though not everything. In the first half, we had control and created some chances, but I felt we were a bit careless at times, losing possession too easily or trying to force plays unnecessarily. I told the players to stay patient and let the gaps develop naturally rather than pushing too hard. After halftime, during the first seven minutes, we completely dominated—they didn’t even cross the halfway line. Scoring a goal in that moment gave us real momentum, and you could say we were flying after that.”
On his thoughts about defeating Real Madrid and whether it’s a ‘statement’…
“It’s always satisfying to win, especially against a top team like this, given the quality of their players. However, for me, the significance of this victory would grow if we progress to the later stages of the tournament. The Champions League has such a unique format that it’s hard to gauge the importance of individual wins at this stage. If we reach the last 16, the quarter-finals, or even further and face them again—and then beat them—that would feel like a stronger statement. But for now, we’re certainly happy with the result, no question about that.”
On Conor Bradley’s performance…
“It’s great for him, his family, and for us as a team. It’s also a proud moment for the Academy to see a player come through the ranks and perform so well. And it wasn’t just him—Caoimh had an outstanding game, Curtis [Jones] was outstanding too. In fact, all three Academy players in the team were excellent, which is a huge credit to the Academy’s work. Conor’s performance was impressive, but I’m not surprised. He showed his quality last season and has continued to demonstrate it this season in both training and matches. It’s a really nice moment for him.”
On whether Kelleher’s form and Alisson Becker’s return create a ‘difficult decision’…
“Every decision I make is tough because we have so many quality players. I’ve been clear about this situation, but tonight should be focused on Caoimh’s importance to us. It was a big moment for him too. When Mbappé was behind the ball, I think everyone, including myself, thought the same—‘This ball is probably going in.’ But he saved it, which was a huge and special moment for him. That should be the headline, not the other situation I already addressed one or two weeks ago.”
On the Reds’ improvement between the two halves being a season theme…
“I think the effort we put in during the first half is what allows us to perform so well in the second half. Playing at this level, it’s tough to outplay teams in the first half, but we keep investing, keep running, stay aggressive, and press high. In the second half, you typically see more goals, not just with us but in general. That’s because players start to tire, and we’ve put in that initial effort to set us up for an even better performance in the second half.”
On the improvements in the second half…
“The positive thing about the second half is that before they go out for kick-off, we always prepare the players for what to expect based on what we’ve seen from the opposition so far. However, what we had seen from them included Vinicius [Jr.], and then they started the second half without him. So, after the first half, we had a clearer idea of what to expect than we did before the game. Sometimes, these small adjustments can make a difference, but it’s mostly down to the effort we put in during the first half.”
On how he has ‘transformed’ the team and led them in the Champions League…
“I don’t think we’ve transformed that much, we’ve made some adjustments. If this is your first time at Liverpool, maybe it seems different, but for those who’ve been here longer, it’s almost normal to be competing in finals or challenging the top teams in Europe. This team has always been at that level. The last two years might have been a bit different, but that was mostly due to a few adjustments or playing against different opponents. We’re only five games in, in a new format, so we’re happy with where we are, but we’re not getting carried away by just winning group-stage matches. This club expects more than just that.”
On Ryan Gravenberch…
“I agree with you, he played a very good game, especially considering he received a yellow card early on. But he’s so comfortable on the ball, and we like to control possession, so having players who are dominant and composed with the ball is crucial. He helps move the ball from the back to the players who can break down any opposition. What makes him special is not just that, but his running ability—he just keeps going. And like all the others, he benefits from the team’s overall performance, because, as I’ve said many times, it’s the team’s performance that elevates individual performances, not the other way around.”