Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid: Alexis Mac Allister on target against Madrid for second season running as Reds down Los Blancos on Trent Alexander-Arnold homecoming | OneFootball

Real Madrid saw their 100% Champions League record come to an end against Liverpool courtesy of a 1-0 defeat in Tuesday’s meeting at Anfield.

Off the back of six straight wins across all competitions, Madrid headed to Merseyside in flying form to take on a Liverpool outfit who had only just returned to winning ways.

As with so many of their home matches, Liverpool started on the front foot and produced the game’s first effort through Alexis Mac Allister.

The Argentinian, who opened the scoring against Madrid last season, was unable to keep his effort from the edge of the box down.

Expectedly, Madrid started to gain a foothold in the half as it progressed after weathering Liverpool’s early storm.

Los Blancos had their first crack at goal in the 18th minute following some nice combination play from Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham, which resulted in the latter teeing up Kylian Mbappe to blaze an effort well over the bar.

The best chance of the opening 30 minutes fell to Liverpool shortly afterwards, but Dominik Szoboszlai was unable to get the better of Thibaut Courtois from close after he was played in by Florian Wirtz.

Liverpool had a potential penalty scenario just past the half-hour mark when Aurelien Tchouamni was adjudged to have handled the ball, only for the VAR to intervene and let the Frenchman off the hook.

Szoboszlai called Courtois into action twice in the space of six minutes as Liverpool pressed to break the deadlock before half time.

Down the other end, Bellingham drew a fine stop out of Giorgio Mamardashvilli, moments before the Georgian shotstopper comfortably dealt with Arda Guler’s long-range strike.

Courtois was perhaps the biggest reason why the game was goalless heading into the two stoppage-time minutes at the end of the opening 45, during which the Belgian had to be alert to thwart MacAllister from distance for the half’s final attacking flurry.

Liverpool wasted no time engaging Courtois after the half-time whistle and forced the ex-Chelsea man into quick-fire saves from Virgil van Dijk and Hugo Ekitike in the early exchanges of the second period.

Szoboszlai continued his personal duel with the Madrid goalkeeper with a free-kick attempt, but Courtois was up to the task once more to keep the game level.

Liverpool’s dominance finally paid off on the hour mark as MacAllister rose highest to head home a Szoboszlai delivery.

Unsurprisingly, Madrid intensified their attacking intent after going behind, although they were unable to fashion out a clear-cut opportunity to restore parity.

Having cut a peripheral figure for large spells of the second half, Mbappe sent a side-footed effort agonisingly wide as the contest headed into its final 15 minutes.

As Madrid pushed forward in search of a leveller, Liverpool nearly doubled their lead through substitute Cody Gakpo, who was denied from point-blank range by Courtois.

The away side huffed and puffed in the closing moments of the clash, albeit all to avail, as Liverpool held on to emerge victorious.

Arne Slot’s men have now won back-to-back games for the first time since February ahead of Sunday’s heavyweight meeting with Manchester City.