Liverpool maintained their winning record in the UEFA Champions League this season with a 2-0 win over defending champions Real Madrid.
UEFA Champions League
Result: Liverpool 2-0 Real Madrid
Date: 27 November 2024
Venue: Anfield
Los Blancos were without talisman Vinicius Junior due to injury as young midfielder Arda Guler made his first start for the club in the Champions League.
The Reds nearly broke the deadlock inside the opening five minutes when Darwin Nunez surged towards the box but his goal-bound strike was cleared off the line by young defender Raúl Asencio.
While the visitors struggled to carve out chances, Arne Slot's carved out another opening after 24 minutes but goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was on hand to keep out Nunez's close-range strike at point-blank range.
Carlo Ancelotti's men had no answer for the Reds in the first half, as the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Guler and Brahim Diaz were kept quiet for the entire opening 45 minutes by the home side's defence.
The Reds carried that momentum into the second period and got their reward six minutes in as Alexis Mac Allister combined with Conor Bradley before drilling the ball into the far corner.
Los Blancos were afforded the chance to get back in the game on 59 minutes after being awarded a penalty for Andrew Robertson's clumsy challenge on Lucas Vazquez. However, Kylian Mbappe stepped up and saw his spot-kick saved by Caoimhin Kelleher.
The Reds were awarded a penalty of their own ten minutes later when Ferland Mendy brought down Mohamed Salah, who dusted himself off to take the spot-kick but ended up firing wide from 12 yards out.
Liverpool did eventually get the second goal with 13 minutes left on the clock as substitute Cody Gakpo got his name on the score-sheet by nodding home from close range after losing his marker.
The win takes Liverpool top of the League Phase standings with a perfect record while Ancelotti's men find themselves in 24th position.
