Liverpool wary of Mbappe and Vinicius against Real Madrid
Arne Slot and Ryan Gravenberch acknowledged the danger from Mbappe and Vinicius before the match at Anfield; Mbappe 18 goals/14 matches, Vinicius 5 goals/5 times against Liverpool.
Early Wednesday morning (Vietnam time), Anfield awaited a harsh test: Liverpool hosted Real Madrid in the context of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior both in form that could tear apart any defense system. From the press conference to the touchline, Liverpool agreed on one thing: they must minimize the influence of this duo to keep their hopes alive.
Pre-match highlights: Liverpool's internal warning
Ryan Gravenberch is frank about the challenge: “It is not easy to stop Mbappe. He is a world-class player, with the ability to accelerate and finish perfectly. But we will do our best. Konate has played against Mbappe many times and knows him well, so we will rely on him to organize the defense.”
Arne Slot, instead of focusing on Mbappe, highlighted the twin threats of Vinicius Junior: “Vinicius is a special player – lightning fast, incredibly skillful in tight spaces and can go past three or four defenders in one move. He is the type of player you cannot lock down for 90 minutes – you can only limit his influence to some extent.”
Mbappe under Ancelotti: speed drill and finishing instinct
This season, Mbappe has scored 18 goals in 14 games – a rate that speaks to the quality of his finishing and the immediate impact he has. In Real Madrid’s hyper-attacking system under Ancelotti, Mbappe is more than just the final spearhead. He often starts on the left wing, cuts inside, and explodes in transition situations where one touch can create an advantage and a cool-footed finish can finish the move.
In terms of opposition, Liverpool are forced to manage the space behind the defense when pressing. Just one unsynchronized movement or one wrong move, Mbappe will immediately exploit the left-center corridor with speed and short sprints, forcing Liverpool's right-sided center-back and right-sided full-back to make split-second decisions.
Vinicius Junior: Liverpool's familiar nightmare in the Champions League
Vinicius has scored five goals in five games against Liverpool and has never lost to them in the Champions League. From the decisive goal in the 2022 final to his solo runs at the Bernabeu, Vinicius has consistently shown his ability to make a difference in tight spaces and 1v1 situations. If Mbappe is the direct drill, Vinicius is the continuous movement, stretching and tearing apart the defense horizontally and deeply.
Tactical problem for Arne Slot: pressing or blocking back?
Slot understands the dilemma. If they push high as they have always done, Liverpool face vast spaces behind them for Mbappe and Vinicius to exploit. If they drop back, they must accept Real Madrid controlling the ball, pressing and patiently waiting for a mistake. In both scenarios, the quality of defensive transitions and 1v1 decisions on the flanks will shape the game.
Gravenberch mentioned the reliance on Konate on the right side of defence – a detail that shows Liverpool want to increase the resistance and speed to cover Mbappe. In addition, expectations will be on timely support situations on the wing, especially the midfield drops back to block the half-space – half-center, where both Mbappe and Vinicius often rush.
Facts and context: Anfield spirit and the current balance
Liverpool did, in fact, beat Real Madrid 2-0 in the qualifying round last season – a game in which Mbappe missed a penalty and Vinicius missed out through injury. But now it’s a different story, with both fit and in peak form.
Real Madrid are currently 5th in the Champions League, 3 points ahead of Liverpool after a perfect start. The match takes place in the early morning of Wednesday 5/11 at Anfield, where fans will turn their attention to Trent - the fulcrum for pressing situations and also the link that needs to balance attack and defensive discipline.
The Anfield match promises to be not only a traditional match between two European powers, but also a stage for two contrasting styles: Mbappe brings killer instinct and pure speed, Vinicius represents technique and explosion. Liverpool needs a match that is almost perfect in every pressing rhythm, every covering phase. Just a moment of slack, the white storm is likely to come through.
