Beating Real Madrid again in last 16 would mean more – Liverpool boss Arne Slot

Arne Slot was pleased to beat a Real Madrid team who have been a “pain in the a***” for Liverpool for several years but played down the significance of the 2-0 victory.

After seven defeats and a draw – including losses in the 2018 and 2022 finals – the Reds gained their first success over their European nemesis since 2009 with goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo.

Liverpool top the Champions League with five wins from five and are on the verge of securing a place in the last 16, but Slot said the win would mean much more if it came in the knockout stages.

“I wouldn’t say it is the same as any other one because you know how special it is to play against a club that won this Champions League so many times and are the reigning champions as well, dominated Europe for the last few years and were a pain in the a*** for Liverpool many times as well,” he told TNT Sports.

In his post-match press conference Slot added: “I think it is always good to win a game and especially a big game like this, you know you face so many quality players.

“This is such a strange and different setup in the Champions League it is difficult to judge how important these wins are.

“If we meet them in the last 16 and then we are able to beat them it would be a bigger statement.”

Liverpool were well worth their long-awaited victory as they dominated throughout and kept generational talents Kylian Mbappe – who missed a penalty – and Jude Bellingham quite for almost the entire game.

They could even afford for Mohamed Salah to miss a spot-kick of his own, but it did not affect the outcome as Real were restricted to 37 per cent possession and just three shots on target.

Asked whether his side were currently the best in Europe, Slot said: “The ones