Jude Bellingham was unable to prevent Real Madrid from falling to a 2-0 defeat against Liverpool (Image: Getty)
Jude Bellingham absolved Kylian Mbappe of responsibility after the struggling Real Madrid star missed a crucial penalty against . Mbappe’s poor spot-kick was saved by Caoimhin Kelleher with Los Blancos trailing 1-0 at Anfield.
went on to seal a memorable 2-0 Champions League success to continue their remarkable start to life under . Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo scored against stuttering Real, who have been blighted by a number of injuries.
Carlo Ancelotti still had Bellingham and Mbappe, though. Both players failed to make a major impact on the game. Real managed only three shots on target and the first was the Frenchman’s 61st-minute penalty.
But Bellingham insisted his colleague was not to blame despite missing the opportunity to draw Real level. The England star told TNT Sports: “Obviously it’s a big moment in the game but it can happen.
“He’s a wonderful player but the pressure that he holds because of how good he is, is humongous. The penalty is not the reason why we lost the game.
“As a collective, we weren’t good enough on the night. They () performed better than us and it’s as simple as that. Kylian can keep his head high. I know for sure that he will produce many more moments that are huge for this club.”
Mbappe’s performances have come under scrutiny since his high-profile switch from Paris Saint-Germain. He has scored nine goals this season but only two of those have come in his last nine appearances across all competitions.
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