Liverpool defeat Real Madrid 2-0 to top Champions League

Following a decisive 2-0 victory against Real Madrid on Wednesday, thanks to goals from Cody Gakpo and Alexis Mac Allister, Liverpool reclaimed first place in the Champions League rankings. The win was Real Madrid’s first in fifteen years.

As they earned their fifth victory in five games and sat two points ahead at the top of the league under the new structure, the Reds were so dominant that they could afford to have a rare penalty miss from Mohamed Salah in between goals.

Even though Madrid had a penalty that would have tied the game in the second half, Kylian Mbappé was well-defended. Overall, the Spanish squad had a terrible night, dropping to 24th in the 36-team league.

After a beautiful one-two with Conor Bradley in front of a jubilant Kop end at Anfield, Mac Allister scored Liverpool’s first goal in the 52nd minute as they dominated possession and opportunities against the Champions League holders.

After an Andy Robertson cross, Gakpo headed the ball past Thibaut Courtois in the 76th minute to give his team the win.

“When you play against teams like Real Madrid, it's always nice to score, but the most important thing is that we won it, and I think in a really good way,” he remarked.

“We dominated the game, we deserved this.”

The outcome maintained Liverpool’s stellar start under manager Arne Slot and their perfect Champions League record, allowing them to keep an eight-point lead in the Premier League.

Since 2009, Liverpool has lost all eight meetings against Madrid, including two heartbreaking losses in the Champions League final.

We had a tremendous game, and this is a massive result. According to goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher, the team was determined to play well today after losing against them in the Champions League in recent matches.

A huge shout erupted from the crowd as he saved a penalty in the second half from a dejected Mbappé. “I don’t really look at the player too much, I was confident and thankfully, I went the right way again,” said the player.

After Jürgen Klopp’s successful tenure as Liverpool manager, Slot has exceeded expectations by bringing a sense of calm and control to the club’s play while maintaining its trademark swashbuckling attacking style and relentless high press.

In the first half, the home team might have dominated the match. Darwin Núñez had three excellent opportunities, but Courtois was in outstanding form to save them. When right-back Bradley made a spectacular challenge to halt Mbappé’s raging surge towards the goal, it was the loudest applause of the first half.

Following Kelleher’s stop of a feeble penalty attempt by Mbappé in the second half, Salah’s missed penalty added to the astonishment of the spectators.

Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted that his squad was having trouble after losing three of their last five Champions League games.

“I think that, to be totally honest with you, it was a fair result. Liverpool deserved to win. They have a really good dynamic at the moment,” he said.

The top eight teams automatically qualify for the last 16, while the next 16 enter a two-legged playoff to join them.

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