LIVERPOOL PASSES REAL TEST

Liverpool put its miserable recent run behind it with a dominant performance to end Real Madrid's perfect Champions League start with a 1-0 win at Anfield on Tuesday.

Alexis Mac Allister headed in the only goal, but Madrid was grateful to goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois for keeping the score down.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was met with a hostile reception on his return to Liverpool, entering the game as a late substitute, and the home crowd roared the Reds over the line for what could be a turning point in their season.

Both sides are now tied on nine points from their opening four games of the league phase.

Liverpool had lost six of its previous eight games in all competitions, but stopped the rot by beating Aston Villa on Saturday, as Arne Slot resorted to a more tried and tested team selection.

Florian Wirtz replaced Cody Gakpo in the only change from the weekend, and Liverpool again looked more like the side that stormed to the Premier League title last season.

"It is easy to say now, because we won twice in a row," said Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk. "In a world of chaos, you have to stay calm and take the right perspective.

"We all know how football works — it can change overnight."

Slot lauds defense

Mac Allister headed home the game's only goal in the second half of the well-earned win, as Slot's men handed the La Liga leader its first defeat this season in Europe's elite competition.

"Impressive, because we played against an incredible side, a team that's on an unbelievable run of form, only lost once, won all their other games," Slot said. "If you then can win against them and perform how we have, that's very positive," Slot said.

"It's been (some) tricky weeks for us, many away games, hardly any rest in between every single game. It helps if you can play in front of these fans and you can play in front of Real Madrid, because I think that brings out the best in my players and our fans.

"We had a very bad run of form in terms of results. No excuse in the world can make up for us losing so many games," Slot said.

"But, we had to play a lot of games in a small amount of time. Tonight, we played against a team that played on Saturday as well, so the both of us had two days' rest.

"And it's helpful to play in a home game, because, from the last eight, I think we played six away from home. So, the fans can give you just a little bit of an extra edge if you are maybe a little bit tired."

"A great performance ... It could have been a bit more maybe."

The Dutchman also praised his side's defensive discipline, especially in keeping Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior quiet.

"I said before the game that they have scored 26 goals in La Liga, and Mbappe and Vinicius together have 24 goal contributions," Slot said. "So, if you want to win this game you have to make sure that these two are not on the scoresheet."

Slot singled out 22-year-old right-back Conor Bradley for his standout performance.

"Conor was outstanding. To be up against Vinicius so many times one v one is not for everyone. He did outstandingly today," Slot said.

Mbappe's scintillating form has been a major factor in Madrid's fine start to the campaign.

The French striker had only failed to score twice in 17 previous games for club and country.

Vinicius was also well-marshaled by Alexander-Arnold's one-time deputy Bradley, as the Spanish giant failed to score for the first time this season.

Madrid had lost just twice in 20 games since former Liverpool favorite Xabi Alonso took charge, but needed to rely on Courtois to avoid a similar scoreline to its only previous defeat this season — 5-2 at Atletico Madrid.

"Nothing to reproach the team for. It is only the league phase and we can recover these points," said Alonso. "We lost due to small details. We lacked threat in the final third."

Busy Courtois

Courtois broke Liverpool hearts when the sides met in the 2022 Champions League final, with a man-of-the-match display as Los Blancos won 1-0 in Paris.

The Belgian's busy night began when Wirtz teed up Dominik Szoboszlai who failed to beat the former Chelsea stopper from point-blank range.

Madrid was then rescued by a VAR review that deemed Aurelien Tchouameni's arm was in a natural position, and therefore not a penalty, after the Frenchman blocked a shot inside his own box.

It took 45 minutes for Madrid's star-studded forward line to muster a shot on target, when Jude Bellingham jinked clear inside the box and fired a low effort that Giorgi Mamardashvili blocked with his feet.

Courtois continued to keep Slot's men at bay in a blistering start to the second period, clawing away powerful headers from Van Dijk and Hugo Ekitike, before denying Szoboszlai once more from a freekick.

It took the English champion an hour, but finally the giant Madrid No 1 was beaten when Mac Allister powered in a header from another Szoboszlai freekick.

Mbappe spurned the visitor's best chance to level when he skewed wide from the edge of the box.

Alexander-Arnold was met by a chorus of boos nine minutes from time when he entered the game, making his first appearance for Madrid since picking up a hamstring injury on Sept 16.

Amid the hostility, Courtois produced one last fine stop to deny Gakpo, setting up a nervy finale.

Liverpool's much-criticized defense, however, stood firm to deliver the club's first Champions League clean sheet of the season.

Agencies