"They've put the gauntlet down" - Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand makes bold claims about Liverpool after Real Madrid win
Football pundit Rio Ferdinand has heaped praise on Liverpool and labeled them as the best team in Europe after they beat Real Madrid 2-0 on Wednesday, November 27, in the UEFA Champions League. The Manchester United legend believes that Arne Slot's side are looking to fight off every team and not just get a result from the match.
Speaking on TBT Sports, Ferdinand commended Liverpool's approach, and pointed out how they looked hungry on the pitch. He added that they seemed unstoppable under Slot and said:
"They've put the gauntlet down to all the other teams in Europe. They look like the best team in Europe at the moment. They're playing as a team and look the hungriest individuals about. They're not only getting results, they look starving. They look like they haven't been fed for ages, Rottweilers running round the pitch hunting teams down. They've got the composure."
The Reds easily dispatched Real Madrid to a 2-0 defeat at Anfield despite Mohamed Salah's penalty miss.
Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti admitted that it was a fair result. The Reds managed to keep the defending champions at bay and the Italian tactician acknowledged that, noting in his post-match comments (via Sky Sports):
"To be totally honest it is a fair result, L'pool deserved to win, they have a real good dynamic. They are in great form, connected playing with a high intensity."
Cody Gakpo and Alexis Mac Allister scored for Liverpool as they registered a memorable win over Real Madrid.
Liverpool wanted the win more than Real Madrid, admits Jude Bellingham
Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham admitted that Liverpool players wanted the three points more than his Real Madrid teammates. He also believes the Reds are the best team in Europe this season, saying (via Sky Sports):
"They were more up for it than us to be honest. It's a bad result against the best-performing team in Europe. It's no disgrace to come here and lose but we are disappointed in the way how we performed."
"From the first minute, they took control of the game. We never really maximised the spells we had in possession. When we got the ball back we tried to force a counter-attack a few too many times. We turned it over so much that they managed to keep control. Defensively they kept us in a place where we couldn't really harm them as much," he added.
Liverpool have lost just once this season in all competitions – a 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest at home.
