Alexis Mac Allister and substitute Cody Gakpo were on target as Liverpool qualified for the Champions League knockout stages with a 2-0 win over Real Madrid.
The result saw Liverpool earn their first win against Madrid at the ninth attempt, and Arne Slot's side became the first side to go through in the 36-team group stage after a memorable outing at Anfield.
Slot's hosts started strongly and almost found themselves ahead in the fifth minute when Darwin Nunez’s strike was saved by Thibaut Courtois, with Raul on hand to clear the ball off the line.
Nunez continued to be Liverpool’s main threat in the first half, seeing a close-range effort repelled by Courtois before sending a header narrowly wide of the far-left post with a deft header after being picked out by Mac Allister’s delicately floated pickout.
The Reds would, however, take a deserved lead seven minutes after the restart when neat interplay between Conor Bradley and Mac Allister resulted in the latter picking out the bottom-left corner to send Anfield into raptures.
Liverpool’s good work looked to have been undone when Andrew Robertson’s clumsy challenge on Lucas Vazquez inside the box offered Kylian Mbappe the opportunity to level the contest from 12 yards, but the Frenchman saw his effort brilliantly saved by Caoimhin Kelleher.
Mohamed Salah was then tripped at the other end by Ferland Mendy nine minutes later, offering the chance for the Reds to close out the contest, but he scuffed his spot-kick against the post.
However, a quick short-corner routine saw Robertson play a short one-two with Curtis Jones before the full-back delivered onto the head of Gakpo to finish and earn their fifth win in as many European games.
Data Debrief: Ruthless Reds march on
After suffering heartache against Madrid in their recent Champions League encounters, Liverpool produced arguably their most accomplished display against Los Blancos.
The Reds were deserving of their victory on Wednesday, ending the contest with an expected goals (xG) total of 2.53 to Madrid's 1.24.
Liverpool have now scored in their last five games in the Champions League, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of seven between September 2022 and February 2023.
They are just the fifth side to win their opening five games of a Champions League campaign and concede no more than one goal in the process, after AC Milan (1992-93), Juventus (2004-05), Atletico Madrid (2016-17) and Paris Saint-Germain (2017-18).
Conte 'realistic' about Napoli's Scudetto ambitions despite strong start
Antonio Conte insisted his feet remain firmly planted on the ground despite Napoli's impressive start to the season which sees them at the summit of the Serie A table.
Napoli have taken 29 points from their opening 13 league games, a point more than Atalanta, Inter, Fiorentina and Lazio in a tightly-packed battle at the top of the standings.
Conte's side have impressed this season, particularly in defence, keeping eight clean sheets, with only Juventus (10) producing more in the top five European leagues.
The 55-year-old has won four Scudetto titles during his managerial career but was not getting carried away when asked about adding another to his collection.
"We have to be realistic and know that we're only on day 13 and there are six teams within a few points," Conte told reporters on Friday.
"It's a balanced league so far, and, in my opinion, I don't think it will stay that way until the end.
"At the end of the first half of the season, it [the list of contenders] will start to get a little longer. But we're pleased, it shows the work we're doing is good, and I'm happy.
"Day after day we're laying important foundations and I see a continuous growth as a team but also as individuals."
Up next for Napoli is a trip to the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino to face 11th-placed Torino, who are without a win in their last four Serie A matches.
But Paolo Vanoli's side will have confidence of ending that winless streak after their showings against Napoli last season.
They went unbeaten in their two matches against Napoli last term (W1 D1), after a run of five defeats in a row, and could go at least three consecutive matches unbeaten against the Partenopei for the first time since between December 2007 and November 2012 in Serie A (run of five – W3 D2).
"It [Torino] is a solid group, it has good quality, it's in mid-table in a quiet way and without a win for a long time, so there are values," Conte said.
"I live in Turin, almost every Sunday I have the pleasure of going to see the game, and it's an environment that I know, nice and warm, strong, attached to history.
"We'll have to be very careful. It's a game to be approached in the right way, with respect for the quality of the opponent and the environment that we'll find and their history."
Liverpool dealt Konate injury blow ahead of Man City encounter
Ibrahima Konate confirmed he is set for a spell on the sidelines ahead of Liverpool's blockbuster clash against Manchester City on Sunday.
Konate was one of the standout performers for the Reds during their Champions League victory over Real Madrid in midweek but appeared to pick up an injury late in the game.
The Frenchman tangled with Madrid's young Brazilian winger Endrick, which left him lying prone on the turf, though he was able to complete the 90 minutes.
However, Konate is expected to miss this weekend's tantalising tie against Pep Guardiola's out-of-form City side, with reports suggesting he could miss up to 11 games.
"So frustrating to pick up this injury right at the end of a great game on Wednesday night," Konate posted to Instagram.
"Now we start the recovery process, but one thing I promise is I will come back and be the best I can be once again.
"Thank you for the amazing support at Anfield. Inshallah, we will keep going, and I will support the team every step of the way."
Konate's absence is a huge blow for Arne Slot's side, with the Frenchman having formed an imperious partnership alongside Virgil van Dijk this season.
The Reds have conceded just 12 goals from their 19 games in all competitions so far this term, with Konate playing a huge role in their new-found defensive resilience.
Only Van Dijk (40) has won more aerial duels in the Premier League for Liverpool this season than Konate (28), while the Frenchman has made more blocks (five) than any of his team-mates.
Van Nistelrooy announced as new Leicester head coach
Leicester City confirmed that Ruud van Nistelrooy has become their new head coach following the sacking of Steve Cooper.
Cooper was dismissed following the Foxes' 2-1 defeat to Chelsea last Saturday, their fifth game in all competitions without a victory.
Van Nistelrooy most recently took interim charge of Manchester United after they parted ways with Erik ten Hag following a poor start to the season earlier this month.
The Dutchman won three of his four games at the helm, with two of those victories coming against Leicester in the Premier League and the EFL Cup.
Speaking to LCFC.com, Van Nistelrooy said: “I’m proud, I’m excited. Everybody that I speak to about Leicester City football club is enthusiastic.
"They have great stories about the quality of the people working at the club, the supporters and, of course, the recent history of the club is impressive.
"I’m excited to start and to get to know everyone and give everything I can for the Football Club.”
This is Van Nistelrooy's first full-time role since May 2023, when he spent one full season in charge of PSV Eindhoven.
During his time with the Eredivisie side, he won 33 of his 51 games in charge (D10 L8), averaging a win percentage of 64.71%, while also scooping the KNVB Cup and Johan Cruyff Shield.
Leicester travel to Brentford this Saturday, with first-team coach Ben Dawson overseeing matchday duties ahead of Van Nistelrooy's arrival.
The Dutchman's first game in charge will be next Tuesday, when the Foxes host fellow bottom-half side West Ham at the King Power Stadium in the Premier League.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
