Liverpool defeated Real Madrid 2-0 at Anfield on Wednesday night on matchday 5 in the UEFA Champions League, Afrosport reports.
The Premier League leaders, who returned to the top of the Champions League standings with 15 points, handed the reigning champions their third defeat in the competition this season, with Madrid languishing in 24th with six points.
Argentine midfielder Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring seven minutes into the second half as his low strike found the bottom corner of Thibaut Courtois’ goal.
Los Blancos were handed a lifeline to restore parity, but French forward Kylian Mbappe had his 61st-minute penalty saved by Caoimhin Kelleher after the Liverpool goalkeeper guessed the right way.
The hosts also missed a chance to double their lead as Mohamed Salah failed to convert his penalty attempt after he was brought down by Ferland Mendy. However, Arne Slot’s men got their second goal through Cody Gakpo, with the Dutch forward powering home a header past Courtois.
Elsewhere at Villa Park, Aston Villa were held to a goalless draw by Juventus, with a late goal from Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers ruled out by referee Jesus Gil Manzano.
The result means Villa are without a win in seven games in all competitions and have failed to win a game in the Champions League since beating Bologna in matchday 3.
Unai Emery’s men occupy the ninth spot in the table with 10 points after five games, while Juventus, with eight points, are in 19th.
Meanwhile, at the Maksimir Stadium in Croatia, Dinamo Zagreb suffered a 3-0 loss to Borussia Dortmund, who climbed into fourth position.
Goals from Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Algerian defender Remy Bensebaini, and Guinea striker Serhou Guirassy were enough for the Bundesliga side to claim their fourth win in the Champions League this season.
In Wednesday’s other games, Red Star Belgrade thumped Stuttgart 5-1 in Serbia; Sturm Graz won their first game by beating underperforming Girona 1-0 in Austria.
Benfica came back from a goal down twice to beat 10-man Monaco 3-2 in an exhilarating five-goal thriller at the Stade Louis II. Japanese forward Daizen Maeda helped Celtic salvage a point in their 1-1 draw against Club Brugge.
PSV scored two late goals to clinch a 3-2 comeback win against 10-man Shakhtar Donetsk in the Netherlands, while a brace from DR Congo international Ngal’ayel Mukau fired Lille to a 2-1 win away at Bologna.
