Mac Allister kickstarts Liverpool party to keep up perfect record

Arne Slot's Liverpool reboot has its latest dividend. His team continues to boast the only 100% record in the Champions League group stage and this was not just another victory, it was a swatting aside of the holders, a statement of intent.

- David Hytner

Real Madrid have hurt Liverpool more than any other opponent in Europe. In four of the previous seven seasons, they have ended their hopes - most agonisingly in the finals of 2018 and 2023.

This was a night when Liverpool asserted themselves and banished a few demons, star turns everywhere but especially from Conor Bradley at right-back. He was up against Kylian Mbappé and not only barely gave him a kick, he found the time to get forward in the second half when he teed up Alexis Mac Allister for the opening goal.

Madrid were a pale imitation of their best selves, Mbappé not the only player to go missing in action. He was the most high-profile, mainly because he saw a penalty that would have given his team a lifeline at 1-0 saved by Caoimhin Kelleher. Mohamed Salah would miss one at the other end for Liverpool shortly afterwards, which he won himself after tying Ferland Mendy in knots. Salah blasted the kick wide.

There would be no outlandish comeback of the sort that Madrid specialise, the Liverpool substitute Coady Gakpo rising to bury a header after Andy Robertson had worked a short corner routine with the outstanding Curtis Jones. With three defeats out of five in the competition, Madrid are in trouble.