Liverpool beat Real Madrid to maintain perfect Champions League record

Cody Gakpo celebrates scoring Liverpool's second goal in their win over Real Madrid. [Oli SCARFF/ AFP]

Liverpool emerged victorious in their heavyweight clash against Real Madrid, becoming the only team with a perfect record in this season's Champions League. The 2-0 win at Anfield, marked by goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo, solidified their top spot and secured a place in the knockout phase play-offs.

Real Madrid, the reigning champions, were outclassed as Liverpool broke an eight-game winless streak against the Spanish giants. Mac Allister scored early in the second half, while Kylian Mbappe's missed penalty frustrated Madrid. Liverpool had a penalty miss of their own, but Gakpo's late header sealed the victory.

Manager Arne Slot praised his side's performance, emphasizing the significance of defeating the defending champions. "You know how special it is to play against a club that won this Champions League so many times," Slot remarked.

Meanwhile, Madrid's struggles continue, with Carlo Ancelotti offering support to Mbappe, saying, "This is a difficult moment for him. We will support him and give him love." Madrid sit precariously in 24th place, the last qualifying spot for the knockouts.

Dortmund Dominate in Zagreb

Elsewhere, Borussia Dortmund secured a comfortable 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb. English sensation Jamie Gittens gave Dortmund an early lead, followed by goals from Ramy Bensebaini and Serhou Guirassy. The win keeps Dortmund firmly in contention, tied on 12 points with Barcelona.

Stalemates and Setbacks

Aston Villa and Juventus played out a goalless draw, with Villa denied a late winner due to a controversial foul. Despite the draw, Villa remain on the fringes of the top eight.

In a dramatic encounter, Monaco fell 3-2 to Benfica. Despite leading twice, Monaco's numerical disadvantage after Wilfried Singo's red card proved costly, as late goals from Arthur Cabral and Zeki Amdouni secured a Benfica comeback.

PSV's Stunning Comeback

The night's most thrilling comeback came from PSV Eindhoven, overturning a 2-0 deficit to beat Shakhtar Donetsk 3-2. Malik Tillman starred, scoring twice in the final minutes before Ricardo Pepi netted the winner deep into added time.

Other Key Results

Red Star Belgrade secured their first win, thrashing Stuttgart 5-1, while Sturm Graz grabbed a 1-0 victory over Girona, courtesy of Mika Biereth's strike. Lille edged Bologna 2-1, thanks to a brace from Ngal'ayel Mukau, keeping their play-off hopes alive.

Celtic and Club Brugge remain on course for the play-offs after a 1-1 draw, with Daizen Maeda's stunning equalizer salvaging a point for the Scots.