Liverpool secured a convincing 2-0 victory over Real Madrid at Anfield on Wednesday, ending the Spanish side’s dominance in their recent head-to-head encounters. The win marked Liverpool’s first triumph over Real Madrid in nine matches, a streak that included losses in the 2018 and 2022 Champions League finals.
Second-half goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo were enough to seal the win for Liverpool, who also missed a penalty through Mohamed Salah. The Reds’ goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher played a crucial role, saving a spot-kick from Kylian Mbappé and keeping a clean sheet in the absence of the injured Alisson Becker.
The game began with Liverpool pressing relentlessly, and Thibaut Courtois, Madrid’s goalkeeper, had to make several early saves to keep the hosts at bay. Darwin Núñez had two golden opportunities but was denied each time by the Belgian shot-stopper. Courtois, who haunted Liverpool with a man-of-the-match performance in the 2022 final, seemed set to frustrate them once again.
Liverpool finally broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute when Mac Allister found space inside the box and curled a shot into the far corner. Real Madrid, struggling without key players such as Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo due to injuries, relied heavily on Mbappé for inspiration. However, the French forward was well-contained by Liverpool’s defence, marshalled by Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté.
Mbappé had a chance to draw Real Madrid level when Lucas Vázquez won a penalty after a challenge from Andy Robertson. However, Kelleher guessed correctly, diving to his left to parry Mbappé’s shot and preserve Liverpool’s lead.
Salah had an opportunity to double Liverpool’s advantage when Ferland Mendy fouled him inside the area, but the Egyptian missed the target, firing his penalty wide. The miss, however, did not prove costly as substitute Cody Gakpo sealed the win six minutes later with a towering header from a corner.
The victory kept Liverpool at the top of their group with a perfect record, while Real Madrid slipped to 24th place in the overall standings. With only the top 24 teams advancing to the next stage, the defeat added pressure on Carlo Ancelotti’s side, who have now lost three of their five group-stage matches.
Liverpool’s manager, Arne Slot, who took over this season, has transformed the side. The win over Madrid extended his record to 17 victories in 19 games across all competitions. His side remains in blistering form, also sitting comfortably atop the Premier League.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, faces a tough road ahead. Their injury-hit squad, combined with a lack of depth in key positions, has made their Champions League campaign particularly challenging. Ancelotti will need to rally his team to secure a spot in the knockout stages.
At Anfield, however, it was a night to remember for Liverpool as they finally overcame their Spanish rivals in style, avenging years of heartbreak in Europe’s elite competition.
