Alexis MacAllister opened the scoring early into the second half after a neat Liverpool move.

Penalty misses from Kylian Mbappe and Mohamed Salah shocked Anfield.

Substitute Cody Gakpo doubled the Liverpool lead with a header that secured all 3 points. Keeping the Reds two points clear at the top of the UEFA Champions League.

Liverpool FC: Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Macallister, Jones; Salah, Nunez, Diaz.

Subs: Gakpo, Szoboszlai, Gomez

Real Madrid CF: Courtois; Valverde, Asensio, Rudiger, Medny; Modric Camavinga; Mbappe, Bellingham, Guler; Diaz.

Subs: Ceballos, Vazquez, Endrick.

Festive spirit, the busiest time of the year, took over Anfield and the surrounding areas. Hotel Anfield’s fairy lights and decorations illuminated the road. The pre match atmosphere was slightly tense, a huge task was at hand for Arne Slots side, a test like no other the European Champions. Given Liverpools fabulous start to the European campaign it almost seemed like a dress rehearsal for Manchester City on Sunday.

Real Madrid media machine the Marca printed “This is Anfield… So What” on their front pages. I wondered if they’d already seen the second act?

Attendance: 59,546

First Half

Real Madrid looked shellshocked by an almighty Anfield atmosphere. Darwin Nunez forced an early save from Thibaut Courtois, youngster Raul Asencio miss-controlled the subsequent rebound towards his own net before stretching back to clear it off the line.

Liverpool’s ferocious start continued, Darwin Nunez flicked a loose ball goal bound from inside the 6 yard box and forced another save from Thibaut Courtois.

Real Madrid survived the early onslaught and threatened to counter from a Liverpool corner. Kylian Mbappe broke through at full tilt leaving Alexis MacAllister for dead. Conor Bradley made a remarkable sliding tackle, taking all the ball, then all the man. Anfield erupted, the atmosphere rose ten fold.

Squandered headed efforts from Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz would ensure the game remained goalless heading into half time.

Second Half

Persistence paid off for Liverpool just 7 minutes into the second half. A neat move culminated when Alexis MacAllister played a one-two with Conor Bradley before finishing across goal into the bottom corner. The Anfield roof came off. A roar like no other let out, Anfield was unhinged; 1-0.

However, just moments later Reds would be biting their nails. Lucas Vazquez’s trailing leg was caught by Andy Robertson, referee Francois Letexier pointed to the penalty spot without hesitation. Kylian Mbappe shot to the goalkeeper’s left only to be denied by Caoimhe Kelleher, his second penalty save this week.

Momentum was back with the hosts, Luis Diaz launched a Liverpool counter. A perfectly weighted through pass released Mohamed Salah one-on-one with Ferland Mendy who brought down our Egyptain King inside the penalty area for the second penalty of the half. Mohamed Salah inevitable from the spot, struck the outside of the upright leaving Anfield stunned.

However it wouldn’t matter, an opportunistic short corner gave Andrew Robertson sufficient time to deliver an inviting ball for substitute Cody Gakpo to head home doubling Liverpool’s lead and easing all nerves; 2-0.

Caoimhe Kelleher survived a late Madrid advance making some key saves to keep a clean sheet.

Liverpool stay top of the UEFA Champions League. A win next time out against Girona FC could secure Liverpool a top 8 spot, depenandant on other results.

Your all up to date! Follow Anything Liverpool on X and BlueSky for the latest LFC news.