Liverpool deliver statement win vs Real Madrid to ruin Alexander-Arnold return

LIVERPOOL 1-0 REAL MADRID: Liverpool were frustrated by familiar foe Thibaut Courtois for nearly an hour but finally found a breakthrough against Xabi Alonso' Real Madrid

Liverpool were far from scared as they took the game to Real Madrid in their blockbuster Champions League clash at Anfield. They were made to wait for a breakthrough against Xabi Alonso's resilient back-line, but Alexis Mac Allister's header set them on their way and the visitors had no answer and were arguably flattered by the narrow margin of defeat.

A win at Eintracht Frankfurt in the Reds' previous European game demonstrated they still had goals in the team. Madrid posed a different kind of test, though, having won three out of three before their trip to Anfield.

When the teams met last season during the league phase, Arne Slot's team delivered a statement victory. Perhaps this was what gave them inspiration in the first half as they peppered their opponents' goal with shots but couldn't find a breakthrough.

Liverpool were the closest to an opener inside the first half-hour, only for Thibaut Courtois to stay big to deny Dominik Szoboszlai. Moments later, the hosts thought they might have had a penalty for handball only for a VAR check to dash their hopes.

After the break, Liverpool kept up the tempo and eventually got their reward despite Courtois' best efforts and moved level with their opponents on nine points from four Champions League games. Here are Mirror Football's talking points.

1. VAR drama

The penalty controversy in the first half saw VAR used in a more complex way than it's sometimes employed. When the ball struck Aurelien Tchouameni, referee Istvan Kovacs initially awarded a free-kick.

It quickly emerged that the offence - if indeed their was one - occurred inside the area. However, it also emerged that it wasn't Tchouameni's outstretched arm which made contact but rather the limb closer to Szoboszlai when the Hungarian shot at goal.

Mark Clattenburg, the former Premier League referee, saw things differently during Prime Sport's broadcast. "I agree with the referee's initial decision of handball. Once it's handball, the handball is inside the penalty area," he argued. Thankfully for Liverpool, it didn't affect the final result.

2. Reds keen to shoot from range

Twice in the opening 20 minutes, Liverpool players tried their luck from range. Both Alexis Mac Allister and Hugo Ekitike saw their efforts blocked - Mac Allister's by his team-mate Ryan Gravenberch - but their seemed to be a plan to shoot powerfully and shoot early.

Szoboszlai was the next to try his luck, smashing in that effort from 25 yards which struck the arm of Aurelien Tchouameni but didn't bring a penalty. There was still time for another shot from outside the box before half-time, Szoboszlai again stinging the pakms of Courtois with a low effort, and the midfielder did so yet again two minutes from the break to force a corner.

In first half stoppage-time - you guessed it - Mac Allister fired in another effort from distance to force a save from Courtois. If they felt Courtois had a leak, it was nowhere to be seen.

3. An unlikely route to goal

Alexis Mac Allister is a lot of things to Liverpool but an aerial threat isn't the first thing people would have on their list. He can score a headed goal when called upon, though, and his opener had too much power for Courtois.

The midfield three of Mac Allister, Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch served Liverpool brilliantly last season but all three haven't been available to play as a trio especially regularly this term. The way in which they complement each other is something which is easy to forget until they give you a reminder of just how natural it can be.

On another day, we might have also seen some more regular scorers find the net. One thing you can say is this Liverpool team certainly has a lot of ways of troubling opposition keepers.

4. Vini Jr with a lucky escape?

After picking up a yellow card early on, Vinicius Jr clashed with Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley inside the home area. When the Brazil star went down theatrically, sections of the home crowd wanted him booked again for a dive but didn't get their wish.

On the stroke of half-time, it looked like he could punish them after that let-off. He linked up well with Jude Bellingham in the channels, but Giorgi Mamardashvili stood firm to keep out the England star's low, driven effort.

Before kick-off, there was speculation about the kind of reception Trent Alexander-Arnold might receive at the ground he once called home. As he sat on the bench, the home support had a natural pantomime villain to target, though Alexander-Arnold did receive some boos when he eventually arrived, but Conor Bradley's handling of Madrid's left winger may well have been the bigger story for a fair few fans.

5. Wirtz's flashes of quality

Arne Slot backed Florian Wirtz from the get-go after giving the playmaker some time out of the spotlight in recent weeks. Perhaps he felt the mere presence of Xabi Alonso would be enough for the German to rediscover his Bayer Leverkusen form.

Shortly before the half-hour mark, it looked as though Slot would be rewarded. Wirtz showed smart movement down the right to find space before rolling the ball across for Dominik Szoboszlai, only for Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois to deny him with a huge save.

We're still waiting for the £116million man to put in a consistent run of performances to justify the fee. He's showing more, though, even if this wasn't quite, as some had hoped, the moment he truly announced himself.