Liverpool passes real test

"Conor was outstanding. To be up against Vinicius so many times one v one is not for everyone. He did outstandingly today," Slot said.

Mbappe's scintillating form has been a major factor in Madrid's fine start to the campaign.

The French striker had only failed to score twice in 17 previous games for club and country.

Vinicius was also well-marshaled by Alexander-Arnold's one-time deputy Bradley, as the Spanish giant failed to score for the first time this season.

Madrid had lost just twice in 20 games since former Liverpool favorite Xabi Alonso took charge, but needed to rely on Courtois to avoid a similar scoreline to its only previous defeat this season — 5-2 at Atletico Madrid.

"Nothing to reproach the team for. It is only the league phase and we can recover these points," said Alonso. "We lost due to small details. We lacked threat in the final third."

Busy Courtois

Courtois broke Liverpool hearts when the sides met in the 2022 Champions League final, with a man-of-the-match display as Los Blancos won 1-0 in Paris.

The Belgian's busy night began when Wirtz teed up Dominik Szoboszlai who failed to beat the former Chelsea stopper from point-blank range.

Madrid was then rescued by a VAR review that deemed Aurelien Tchouameni's arm was in a natural position, and therefore not a penalty, after the Frenchman blocked a shot inside his own box.

It took 45 minutes for Madrid's star-studded forward line to muster a shot on target, when Jude Bellingham jinked clear inside the box and fired a low effort that Giorgi Mamardashvili blocked with his feet.

Courtois continued to keep Slot's men at bay in a blistering start to the second period, clawing away powerful headers from Van Dijk and Hugo Ekitike, before denying Szoboszlai once more from a freekick.

It took the English champion an hour, but finally the giant Madrid No 1 was beaten when Mac Allister powered in a header from another Szoboszlai freekick.

Mbappe spurned the visitor's best chance to level when he skewed wide from the edge of the box.

Alexander-Arnold was met by a chorus of boos nine minutes from time when he entered the game, making his first appearance for Madrid since picking up a hamstring injury on Sept 16.

Amid the hostility, Courtois produced one last fine stop to deny Gakpo, setting up a nervy finale.

Liverpool's much-criticized defense, however, stood firm to deliver the club's first Champions League clean sheet of the season.

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