Liverpool is 100% on top of the Champions League after dumping title holder Real Madrid into an almost unbelievable 24th place in the 36-team standings.
No one felt the embarrassment of Madrid's 2-0 loss at Anfield more than Kylian Mbappé, the superstar added in the offseason by the storied club that also was European champion against Liverpool in the finals of 2022 and 2018.
Mbappé had a penalty saved in the second half and was earlier dumped on his behind by Conor Bradley's superb tackle in an instant viral moment.
Only Liverpool has started the new Champions League format with five wins and first-year coach Arne Slot's team is two points clear of Inter Milan. Barcelona is third, trailing Liverpool by three points.
Madrid is, remarkably, with three rounds left just one place above being eliminated. The top eight teams at the end of January go direct to the round of 16 in March, and teams placed from ninth to 24th enter a round of two-leg playoffs in February.
"(This) doesn't change much, because even with a win it was going to be tough to secure a top-eight finish," Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "It was a fair result."
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The Rise Of Alternate Intelligence: Humanity's Final Error
What we call ‘artificial intelligence’ may soon evolve beyond our current boundaries with our wanting to scale new frontiers
Reasons Why Your Toes Keep Cramping
Imagine being sound asleep and suddenly waking up with a sharp, paralyzing stiffness in your calf or foot.
Peak Perfection
Come one - but not all. Switzerland’s approach to tourism is sustainable. Ritu Sharma tells us about its evolving allure for Indian travellers.
Rafi's musical brilliance
Singer Sonu Nigam paid tribute to legendary singer Mohd Rafi at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa recently, and while at it, Sonu gushed over how the late singer would convincingly sing bhajans, despite being Muslim.
Bobby Deol celebrates 1 yr of Animal
A nimal will always remain special for Bobby Deol as the film marked his successful comeback to the big screen. On Sunday, the film, which also stars Ranbir Kapoor and Anil Kapoor, completed a year since it hit the theatres.
'Attend funeral for extra income'
Chunky Panday revealed that during the early phase of his career, he would attend events to earn extra income
#SoChay Wedding
Sobhita Dhulipala and Naga Chaitanya will soon be tying the knot.
Palliative care could be left in the cold
There are growing concerns over the funding palliative care might receive now that a proposed law on assisted dying has been passed to the next stage of Parliament, according to the BBC.
Hasina attack: Ex-PM Zia's son acquitted
A Bangladeshi High Court on Sunday acquitted all the accused, including former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's son Tarique Rahman and former State Minister Lutfozzaman Babar, in a 2004 grenade attack on ousted premier Sheikh Hasina's rally.
Priest booked for alleged religious conversion
A priest has been booked under the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act with an FIR registered against him for allegedly promoting conversions in Amrai under the Bagsewania police station limits on Sunday.
