It’s Arne Slot’s world and we all live in it. Liverpool defeated Real Madrid emphatically 2-0 at Anfield, banishing many of their past demons in the process. The Reds pinned Real Madrid in their own half for most of the game, and whenever they managed to get into Liverpool’s half, they were quickly swallowed up by the Reds’ resilient rearguard.

After the game, head coach Arne Slot gave special praise and also commented on our goalkeeping situation:

(about Kelleher’s appearance and Alisson Becker’s upcoming return)

I think every decision I have to make is difficult because we have so many good players. I have expressed this situation clearly, but tonight should not be about that, but about the fact that Caoimh is so important to us. I think it was a big moment for him too; When you see Mbappe behind the ball, I probably thought what everyone was thinking – and what everyone was thinking when Mo stepped up – “This ball is probably going to go in.” And he saved it, so it was a big moment for him, a special moment for him. So let that be the headlines and not the other stuff I was very clear about a week or two ago.

(on Conor Bradley’s all-action display)

I think it’s nice for him, nice for his family, nice for us, but it’s also very nice for the academy that a player who comes through in the academy does so well. And it’s not just him – Caoimh was outstanding today, Curtis (Jones) was outstanding today. They were probably all outstanding, but having three academy players in your team who are performing so well is also a huge compliment to the academy this club has. And Conor did it very well. But it doesn’t surprise me at all that he’s doing so well because he showed that last season and also this season in training and in games. So very good for him.

(via Ryan Gravenberch’s midfield mastery)

I agree with you, he played a very good game, which wasn’t easy because he received a yellow card early in the game. But he’s so comfortable on the ball and we like to have a lot of possession and when you have a lot of possession it’s always useful to have players who are so comfortable and dominant on the ball. And he, together with our last line, brings the ball to the players who can harm any opponent. That’s what’s special about him, along with his running ability – he just keeps running. And like everyone else, he benefits from team performance, because as I have said many times, team performance makes individual performance and not the other way around.

Flashback to last month: Liverpool were successful but “they hadn’t played anyone yet”. Nine games later, Liverpool were almost perfect and now await the visit of Manchester City on Sunday.