Liverpool remind Europe what they are capable of with outstanding victory over Real Madrid | OneFootball

Anfield erupted once again under the lights as Liverpool delivered a commanding 1-0 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League, a night that reminded Europe exactly what this team is capable of.

Alexis Mac Allister’s second-half header sealed a richly deserved victory for Arne Slot’s side and ensured that Trent Alexander-Arnold’s first return to Anfield since his summer departure ended in defeat.

Liverpool were everything they have largely lacked in recent weeks: aggressive, brave on the ball, and relentless in the press. Madrid, unbeaten in Europe before tonight, were suffocated. They could not play through Liverpool, could not go over them, and could not find a way around.

From the first whistle, the Reds looked sharper and more purposeful. Mac Allister fired the first warning shot wide before Kylian Mbappé ballooned Real’s best early chance over the bar. The outstanding Dominik Szoboszlai was at the heart of everything Liverpool created, denied twice by Thibaut Courtois in a first half that had Anfield on its feet.

Liverpool’s intensity only grew after the interval. Courtois somehow kept out headers from Virgil van Dijk and Hugo Ekitike in quick succession before the breakthrough finally came just after the hour. Szoboszlai’s perfectly weighted delivery invited Mac Allister to glance home a header that sent Anfield into chaos.

When the board went up for substitutions, the noise level somehow climbed even higher. Trent Alexander-Arnold, once the local hero in red, entered to a chorus of boos as he made his Anfield return in Real Madrid white, replacing Arda Güler. It was a surreal moment and one that underlined the night’s emotion.

Madrid’s best chance to equalise came when Mbappé flashed a shot just wide in the final 15 minutes, but if there was to be another goal, it always looked like falling Liverpool’s way. Cody Gakpo went close late on, and Courtois was once again Madrid’s saviour.

When the final whistle blew, it was hard to argue that this was not Liverpool’s finest performance of the season. After ending four successive Premier League defeats on Saturday, they look reborn. The pressing was sharp, the passing was brave, and every player seemed to have rediscovered confidence.

With nine points from 12 at the halfway stage, Liverpool sit firmly in contention for a top-eight finish and direct qualification to the knockout rounds. But beyond the numbers, this was a statement a reminder that Liverpool are still very much part of Europe’s elite.