By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Liverpool put a disappointing run behind them with a dominant performance to end Real Madrid’s perfect Champions League start with a 1-0 win at Anfield, and to inflict more pain on the returning Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Alexis Mac Allister headed in the only goal but Madrid were grateful to goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois who made eight saves.
Xabi Alonso’s team, top of LaLiga, never really came close to finding an equaliser.
Alexander-Arnold, his mural having been defaced on the eve of the game, was booed onto the pitch for the warm-up, when his name was read out by the announcer before kick-off, and finally, most loudly, when he was introduced as a late substitute.
His replacement as Liverpool’s right-back, Conor Bradley, faced a tough test against Vinicius Junior but had his name chanted regularly by the Anfield crowd as he faced up well to the challenge, even getting the Brazilian booked as he raced forward himself.
Overall, it was a cathartic performance by Liverpool, Arne Slot’s new-look side building on their much-improved showing against Aston Villa on Saturday evening as they look to rediscover their best form following that alarming run of recent defeats.
The points lift them into the top eight places in the Champions League table, level on points with Madrid, whose own perfect record comes to an end. The teams may yet meet again in the spring, when Alexander-Arnold will be hoping to have more of a say.
Champions League Results
Tottenham 4-0 Copanhagen
Bayern Munich 2-1 PSG
Juventus 1-1 Sporting FC.