The Reds reminded everyone just why they are European royalty with a dominant display against Real Madrid, as Arne Slot happens upon a timely and ideal formula ahead of Manchester City.Liverpool 1-0 Real MadridChampions League (4) | AnfieldNovember 4, 2025Goals: Mac Allister 61′1. Control returns to AnfieldThere were plenty of positives from the recent home win against Aston Villa, but this one was the real deal. No pun intended.Liverpool went toe-to-toe against the Spanish giants here, squared off with full confidence, landed every punch and got the job done. A proper professional and highly polished performance, and one each of those lads should be proud of.There was a swagger and confidence back. These lads love going up against the best teams in the world, because they are one of the best teams in the world. They know their level. Miserly, error-strewn defeats to some of the smaller Premier League teams so far this season will have bothered Arne Slot‘s men, but don’t for one minute believe these lot have been anywhere near pressing the panic button.The manager got the line up correct this evening, making the wise choice of keeping things consistent from the Villa win. The returning Florian Wirtz immediately chomped at the bit, and was one of the standout performers here. Liverpool just look like a totally different beast when the control returns.As recently noted across This Is Anfield talking points, everything good that comes from this side is built upon a high functioning midfield. Here it ticked over perfectly.The Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch axis purred in tandem, helping a newly robust defence and allowing Dominik Szoboszlai ample surging room to power into the channels ahead. Notice how everything clicks into place thereafter; Hugo Ekitike peels off his man easier, Mo Salah looks a measure more relaxed with the interchanging passes and Wirtz can ghost from one pocket to another without feeling a hefty pressure hanging over him. This one was a joy to watch. 2. Conor Bradley masterclassNobody loves a go-out-there-and-prove-yourself fixture more than this lad. Bradley is a very good, rapidly improving footballer, but his uncanny ability of stepping up to the plate when the spotlight is on speaks huge volumes.You rarely get much less than a 7/10 performance from Bradley. The 22-year-old has a serious grip on the basics of what makes good, consistent football. He’s both solid in his approach and malleable in his versatility.Tonight he knew the pressure was on big time. Unlike everyone else, this wasn’t just a match against the superstars of Real Madrid for Bradley. This was a headline Champions League fixture while also being reminded, by each second, that the defector whose position you have taken is watching on from the sidelines.The Trent Alexander-Arnold and Bradley chat was all the rage pre-match, but the Kop soon ensured all attention was channeled onto the performance of the northern Irishman, with his name bellowed out after every successful duel against Vinicius Jr. And there were plenty.Last season it was Kylian Mbappe who Bradley artfully nullified, this time it was the Brazilian maestro. Better up the game and get past the boy from Castlederg if you want to get one of those Ballon d’Ors you’re obsessed with, lads. 3. Ekitike and Wirtz sparkThe Liverpool data and video boffins would have adored the shift this evening, and will spend the best part of the remainder of the week poring over the footage and microscopic details of what the two big summer signings exhibited here.It’s laughable to see the meme-thirsty culture that is the chronically online modern-day football fan being desperate to label Wirtz a failure and condemn him to the annals of Premier League misfits. It’s quite clearly not the case. A pair of eyes can clear that one up for you.Wirtz has looked bright in most matches, albeit not an immediate fit for what Slot wants to do. That will come, and here we saw signs that Ekitike can be a vital component in getting Wirtz in top form.The duo dovetailed perfectly in stages, leaving Madrid defenders marking shadows and taking comical double-take glances over shoulders. The football IQ of both players is high, and Liverpool are only going to benefit once the understanding becomes solidified. 4. The grey VAR cloudA collective sigh of surprise filled the air at the end of the first half, when the referee decided not to upgrade his handball decision from freekick to a penalty – but instead chalk it off completely.In the end, it served Liverpool well in terms of pepping up the crowd, but it’s never the most enjoyable situation to be part of.Ultimately it’s another case of being careful what you wish for. VAR was brought in to specialise in the forensic-level assessment of football decisions, and the purists will never ever take to it. But, it gets decisions, and the powers that be will fully champion that the correct one was made this evening, in the flagship fixture of the week.As always, the debate goes on. 5. Formation fixedSlot has a solid foundation to build momentum here, with this specific XI and the design in which it is laid out. Perfect timing as Pep Guardiola’s rabble await on the horizon.The concept of a floating front three, allowing Salah and Wirtz to intertwine constantly around Ekitike, with Szoboszlai pressing from just behind, feels absolutely spot on with regards what Liverpool need right now. Intensity, creativity and two serious finishers in there.If the midfield hold up their end of the bargain again when City welcome the Reds, and the defence maintain this same level of composure, there could be quite the fixture served up at the Etihad.