UEFA confirm why Mac Allister goal was allowed to stand despite his offside position…

UEFA has clarified the reason why Mac Allister’s goal was permitted despite his offside position.

Ultimately, the focus was not on who was present at Anfield, but rather on what was present. The Liverpool team from Arne Slot’s title-winning debut season was the answer, and during their second consecutive visit in November, Real Madrid lacked a similar presence.

Alexis Mac Allister had opened the scoring last season in the 2-0 victory over the Spanish giants – although calling them giants would be a significant overstatement based on their recent performance in Merseyside – and marked the reunion of these European powerhouses as Liverpool, displaying controlled aggression and clear intent, reignited their Champions League campaign and possibly their entire season. Another clean sheet and a goal from a set piece increased Slot’s satisfaction on a lively, reaffirming night at Anfield.

Xabi Alonso’s squad was clearly outmatched, with star players like Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, and Vinícius Júnior relegated to the sidelines throughout the match, and only Thibaut Courtois’s impressive performance against Liverpool kept the score from being more lopsided.

Alonso received a booking upon his return to Anfield. Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose mural near Anfield was defaced earlier that day, faced boos with every touch after being introduced in the 81st minute.

A late sequence of play highlighted the enjoyment Liverpool derived from the match. An aimless cross from Alexander-Arnold was guided out of play on the opposite side of the pitch by his successor as Liverpool’s right back, Conor Bradley.

The impressive Bradley sent Vinícius flying into the air and out of his path for good measure.

Fun was not the only aspect to make a comeback at Anfield. Liverpool showcased an intensity, confidence, and organization that echoed their encounter with Real a year ago.

During that match, Slot’s team carried the momentum of 13 victories in a 14-game unbeaten streak. However, the conditions were vastly different this time.

It was a test to determine if the victory against Aston Villa on Saturday was merely a temporary resurgence or a more substantial recovery. The initial signs were promising for Slot, and this positivity would continue.

Real struggled to escape their half in the first five minutes as Liverpool came out aggressively. Florian Wirtz, making his return, was instrumental in creating the first opportunity by dispossessing Dean Huijsen near the corner flag.

Mac Allister shot over the bar, clearly frustrated, but the stage for a fully committed performance had been established.

Bradley also made an early statement in his personal duel with Vinícius. The Northern Ireland international once again excelled against the renowned players from Madrid.

Last season, he electrified the Anfield crowd with a powerful challenge on Mbappé. This time, he engaged in a running battle with Vinícius, which at times drove the Brazilian to distraction.

The Real forward received a yellow card for bringing down Bradley as he charged into the visitors’ half and later executed a feeble dive in the Liverpool area after being lightly touched in the face by the full-back.

“One Conor Bradley” echoed throughout the stadium, though it was for more reasons than just the young defender’s standout performance of the season.

Alexander-Arnold’s first appearance at Anfield since his contentious summer exit added another layer of intrigue. The boos were mild during his warm-up but intensified in both volume and hostility when he entered the match.

Liverpool’s specter from the 2022 Champions League final, Courtois, would once again trouble them. Wirtz capitalized on a careless touch by Huijsen to break free and delivered a perfect square pass to Dominik Szoboszlai, who arrived unmarked in the box. The midfielder struck cleanly, but Courtois expertly spread himself to make a save at point-blank range.

Liverpool’s disbelief turned to disgust when Szoboszlai aimed for the Real goal next. The Hungarian’s shot hit Aurélien Tchouaméni on the hand as he attempted to block. Referee Istvan Kovacs awarded a free-kick at the edge of the area, but the France international was clearly inside when he made contact with the ball. A penalty seemed imminent when Kovacs was directed to the pitch-side monitor, but he dismissed the penalty appeal and overturned the free-kick. Tchouaméni’s arms were in a natural position, it seemed. Anfield responded with understandable outrage.

The controversy invigorated Slot’s team more than the Spanish league leaders. Giorgi Mamardashvili made saves from Bellingham and Arda Guler in quick succession, but Courtois was by far the busier goalkeeper.

Szoboszlai was denied twice by Real’s No. 1 before halftime, as was Mac Allister, and Courtois’s one-man stand continued after the break. Virgil van Dijk could only chuckle when his close-range header from a Wirtz corner was tipped over.

Courtois repeated the feat when the subsequent corner from Szoboszlai was headed goalwards by Hugo Ekitiké.

Courtois’s resistance was finally breached after Bellingham received a booking for fouling Ryan Gravenberch on the right. According to Alonso, conceding cheap free-kicks was Real’s biggest shortcoming that night.

Szoboszlai delivered a powerful set-piece – Alexander-Arnold might have taken it had he remained – and the improving Mac Allister powered a header through the goalkeeper’s guard.

VAR intervened once more to check for a potential offside against the goalscorer. Anfield would not be incensed this time.