A dreadful pass from Alexander-Arnold goes straight to Asensio on the halfway line. He gives it to Kroos, who slides a through ball towards Benzema in the inside-left channel. Benzema moves into the area and hits a shot that goes behind off Kabak. That was good defending from Kabak, who tracked Benzema all the way.
“I happen to be watching this match on a Spanish-language feed,” says Peter Oh. “I don’t speak the language but understand some bits and pieces. One of the commentators said ‘…Freddie Mercury!’, causing his colleague to break into a hearty chuckle. It was either a reference to Alisson Becker’s moustachioed look, or maybe Sergio Ramos got an edgy new Queen-themed tattoo?”
Fabinho has started strongly, with and without the ball. We’ll never know, but I wonder how the Premier League table would look had he not been seconded to the defence.
Watch: Vinícius Júnior Scores Brace | Real Madrid 3-1 Liverpool
A wicked cross from Alexander-Arnold is superbly headed away by Lucas Vazquez, who was facing his own goal and had Mane waiting behind him to score.
Blimey, Jurgen Klopp has made a very early substitution: Thiago Alcantara is on for Naby Keita. It makes sense, because Liverpool’s passing has been hopeless, but the the timing is interesting to say the least
Real Madrid have been the better team so far, though there isn’t a huge amount in it. Liverpool haven’t pressed as aggressively as most of us expected; most of the time they are sitting deep and playing for counter-attacks.
Mendy beats Alexander-Arnold with ease, gets to the byline and stands up a cross towards Vinicus Junior. He flicks a header across goal that bounces a few yards wide of the far post. Alisson was scrambling a bit, but it never really looked like going in.
27′ GOOOOAAAALLLL!!!! pic.twitter.com/LgYT45SJ2I
— ykvs9092 (@ykvs9092) April 6, 2021