The Reds returned to the top of the table with goals from Cody Gakpo and Alexis Mac Allister in the second half, maintaining their spotless record.
Mohamed Salah missed a penalty kick as well, but it didn’t really matter because Liverpool won their 17th game under Arne Slot.
By crushing the Spanish powerhouses, Slot has already accomplished what Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was unable to do.
Madrid, who were undefeated in eight prior meetings between the two teams, including Champions League finals against Klopp’s team in 2018 and 2022, had a score to settle with Liverpool.
“You know how special it is to play against a club that won this Champions League so many times, are the reigning champions and were a pain in the ass for Liverpool many times as well,” Slot stated.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team drops to 24th place in the standings after the loss.
The top eight go straight to the round of 16, but only the top 24 go to the knockout stage.
Liverpool is on track to accomplish that, and in front of a boisterous Anfield crowd, the confidence that permeates a team that leads the Premier League by eight points was evident throughout.
Due to a long number of injuries, Madrid was unable to travel to England with David Alaba, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, and Aurelien Tchouameni.
Those absences have forced young center-back Raul Asencio to step up, and on four minutes he made a crucial goal-line clearing.
Asencio made a clever move to save the rebound from bouncing off him and into his own net after Salah sent Darwin Nunez in behind the Madrid defense and Thibaut Courtois made a great save on his attempt.
With a man-of-the-match display in the final two years ago, when Madrid won 1-0 in Paris, Courtois was Liverpool’s bane.
As the Liverpool pressure mounted without result prior to halftime, the Belgian was once again at the top of his game, blocking another great Nunez chance from point-blank range.
“Difficult time” for Mbappe At the beginning of the second session, Courtois made another outstanding save by parrying Conor Bradley’s downward header.However, Liverpool proved unstoppable, as on minute fifty-two, Bradley created the space for Mac Allister to shoot into the far corner.
In Vinicius’ absence, the visitors were counting on Mbappe to deliver a magical moment, but Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, his international teammate, were well-marshalled by the Frenchman.
On the hour mark, Andy Robertson was found to have tripped Lucas Vazquez within the area, giving him the opportunity to silence his detractors.
In the absence of the injured Alisson Becker, Caoimhin Kelleher has performed admirably. He jumped to his left to stop Mbappe’s penalty kick.
“Kylian is going through a tough moment,” Ancelotti stated. “We have to be patient with him, he is an exceptional player.”
Before the match, Salah caused a stir by expressing his displeasure that Liverpool had not extended his contract.
Ferland Mendy was duped into a mistimed challenge by the Egyptian’s speed and cunning, who has been in outstanding form this season.
However, Salah’s penalty shot off the outside of the post gave Madrid a lifeline.
The cushion of a second goal was all Liverpool needed to wait six more minutes for, as substitute Gakpo powered a header past Courtois after rising highest from Robertson’s cross.