Liverpool produced another memorable performance under the lights at Anfield as they ran out 1-0 winners over Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Alexis Mac Allister grabbed the only goal in what was an absorbing contest that saw Trent Alexander-Arnold, the subject of much of the pre-game conversation, return to his boyhood club for the first time since leaving in the summer.
The scoreline would have looked far more impressive for Arne Slot’s side, were it not for an inspired display by Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who pulled off a string of impressive saves in both halves.
Under head coach Xabi Alonso, Los Blancos had enjoyed their best start to a season after 14 games for 64 years and were unbeaten in the Champions League this term.
However, they were undone by a rejuvenated Reds side, who made it back-to-back wins for the first time since September.
Another raucous night under the lights at Anfield
With the Anfield crowd in fine voice, Mac Allister had the game’s first sight of goal, lashing an effort wide from just inside the box.
At the other end, Kylian Mbappe blazed over after a neat interchange of passing between the Frenchman, Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham. It was, if not exactly threatening, an early reminder of the attacking quality the visitors possess.
After a ferocious start, the game eventually settled down, but on 27-minutes, the hosts had a great chance to make the breakthrough.
From a loose ball, Florian Wirtz was quick onto it down Liverpool’s right before rolling the ball across the box for the oncoming Dominik Szoboszlai. The Hungarian seemed destined to score but the giant frame of Courtois was quickly out to smother the danger.
Reds fans thought they had been awarded a penalty when Szoboszlai’s shot hit Aurelien Tchouameni but a VAR check ruled the French midfielder’s hand was too close to his body.
Liverpool’s number eight was again in the midst of the action shortly before half-time when his strike stung the palms of Courtois.
Moments later, it was the turn of the Liverpool stopper, Giorgi Mamardashvili, to show his credentials after Bellingham had waltzed past Ibrahima Konate in the box. From the Englishman’s shot from a tight angle, the towering Georgian was on hand to beat away the effort.
It proved to be the last action of an enthralling first-half that would continue in a similar vein after the break.
Courtois finally beaten
Two minutes after the restart, Courtois again came to Real’s rescue when he clawed away a Virgil van Dijk header from point blank range from a corner. From the subsequent corner, the big Belgian was again in the right place to prevent Hugo Ekitike from seeing the net bulge.
But on the hour mark, Courtois was eventually beaten when, from another set-piece, Mac Allister nodded home Szoboszlai’s free-kick for his first goal of the season to give the hosts a deserved lead.
The noise levels inside Anfield, which had already been at fever pitch throughout, suddenly erupted as the hosts eyed a memorable victory.
That jubilation turned to jeering in the 80th minute when the subject of much of the pre-game conversation finally came to pass.
To a chorus of deafening boos, Alexander-Arnold was introduced as Real searched for a way back into the tie.
But the momentum showed little sign of shifting. Substitute Cody Gakpo drew another smart stop from Courtois before Eder Militao threw himself to the ground to deny Mohamed Salah’s close-range effort.
