Liverpool claimed a well deserved 1-0 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday morning AEDT as the biggest storyline heading into the match did not materialise until the 81st minute.
All eyes were on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s return to Anfield following his free transfer to Madrid in the off-season, with his mural defaced ahead of the match, but the right-back only appeared off the bench to boos from the stands.
Arne Slot’s side looked back to their fluid best and would have won by far more had Thibaut Courtois not pulled off a string of remarkable saves.
Ultimately, the Madrid goalkeeper was eventually beaten just after the hour mark with the Belgian powerless to keep out Alexis Mac Allister’s bullet header after a pinpoint free-kick delivery from Dominik Szoboszlai, who again was immense in midfield for the Reds, after a careless foul from Jude Bellingham on Ryan Gravenberch.
Prior to that, Courtois made a remarkable six big saves to deny Liverpool. Three times he kept out Szoboszlai from outside the box, once he denied Mac Allister and then both Hugo Ekitike and Virgil van Dijk with close range headers from corners.
The Reds thought they may have had a penalty on the cusp of half-time when Eder Militao blocked a strike with his arms, but after a VAR check he was ruled to have been in a natural position.
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