Liverpool continued their resurgence with a second consecutive victory, handing Real Madrid their first defeat of the season by winning 1-0 on Tuesday at Anfield in the fourth round of the UEFA Champions League group stage.
Liverpool, six-time winners of the prestigious European competition, owed their victory to Argentine midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, who scored the only goal in the 61st minute.
Liverpool deserved the win as they were the better team throughout the match and could have scored more if not for the outstanding goalkeeping of Belgian Thibaut Courtois, who made several crucial saves, especially against Hungarian international Dominik Szoboszlai.
Liverpool climbed to sixth place with nine points, just behind Real Madrid, the competition's record holder with 15 titles, who are now fifth.
Liverpool played the match without their injured Swedish forward Alexander Isak, Dutch defender Jeremy Frimpong, and Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso, who returned to face his former team with whom he won the Champions League in 2005, was without four players due to injury: Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba, and Federico Mastantuono.
Liverpool pressed hard from the beginning searching to break through Courtois’ goal multiple times. Mac Allister’s powerful shot went over the bar in the 10th minute.
Mbappé responded with a similar attempt that went out of the stands, while Aurélien Tchouaméni's long-range shot narrowly missed the target.
Courtois saved a close-range shot from Dominik Szoboszlai and then saved a powerful shot from him later.
Courtois also blocked strong attempts from Virgil van Dijk and Hugo Ekitike from corners.
Mac Allister finally scored the winner with a close-range header from Szoboszlai's free kick in the 61st minute.
Alonso brought on Brazilian Rodrygo to boost the attack, and Mbappé had a chance to equalize but his shot went just wide.
Former Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold returned as a substitute in the 82nd minute to boos from the Liverpool fans.
Courtois continued to keep Real Madrid in the game with several critical saves late in the match, including a save from Dutch substitute Cody Gakpo and a strong block against Mohamed Salah.
The match was a pivotal win for Liverpool as they moved to nine points from four games, level on points with Real Madrid but trailing on goal difference.
