KLOPP CHIPS COME WITH BITTER TASTE
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GLOVELY STUFF: Thibaut Courtois stretches to deny Reds striker Sadio Mane
TO ACCUSE Belgians of spoiling chips by smothering them in mayonnaise would be a back-handed condiment.
By the same token, Thibaut Courtois has not always been to everyone’s taste – even if his collection of medals is a hallmark of greatness.
Real Madrid’s 6ft 7in goalkeeper has won five titles with four clubs in three different countries, including two in three years at Chelsea – and yet, curiously, he is not held in the same esteem as Petr Cech at Stamford Bridge.
But never mind the mayo, Liverpool were playing ketchup with a two-goal deficit to retrieve – and if Courtois (below) was expecting an early onslaught at Anfield as a showcase for his talents, he was not disappointed.
Barely two minutes had elapsed when he was required to make an instinctive save with his feet to thwart Mo Salah – although the Egyptian forward really should have buried it in the bottom corner.
And when Liverpool captain James Milner’s curling effort was destined for the top corner shortly afterwards, Courtois produced a thrilling leap to turn it over the bar with an outstretched hand.
Before lockdown, European nights at Anfield were enough to make the fillings in your teeth rattle and, for visitors who showed even the tiniest element of trepidation, they inevitably became a real test of character.
Last night, in the absence of the fervent Anfield supporters, the hostility delivered by the welcome committee that left Real’s team coach with a shattered window pane reflected little credit on the Liver bird.
But at times, the tempo and intensity generated by Jurgen Klopp’s side was enough to make Courtois live a more charmed life than a snake in a basket.
At times the waves of pressure were relentless, if fruitless. But where was this version of Liverpool hiding during that horrendous run of six home defeats in a row?
When they give Courtois and Real’s 13-times European Cup winners all the trouble they can handle, forget about mayonnaise.
It will remain a mystery why they couldn’t cut the mustard against Brighton, Fulham and Burnley.