Real Madrid resurrected Liverpool this Tuesday, who, immersed in a crisis of results that threatens their status as Premier League champions, played their best match of the season, outshone a lackluster Real Madrid team and beat them for the second consecutive year in the UEFA Champions League (1-0).

That this Tuesday's Liverpool was not going to resemble Following the recent failures against Brentford, Chelsea, Manchester United, Galatasaray, and Crystal Palace (three times), it was logical. Great teams tended to thrive under pressure, and Liverpool stifled Real Madrid, preventing them from creating anything in attack and allowing them to survive until Thibaut Courtois's miraculous saves came to an end. The Belgian, with a series of crucial stops reminiscent of his performance in the 2022 final—perhaps the best by a goalkeeper in the Champions League final—minimized the impact of a Liverpool side that was the best team and deserved a goal. In the first half, Courtois made a point-blank save from Szoboszlai at the penalty spot and punched away a powerful shot from the edge of the box. Those two minor heart attacks were followed by a possible penalty for a handball by Aurelien Tchouameni, which the referee reviewed on VAR and decided was not punishable. The halftime break, far from allowing Xabi Alonso's men to regroup, spurred on the Reds, who sent three serious warnings in just over a minute. Courtois shone with two saves from headers by Van Dijk and Ekitike, and the Dutchman had a third, again a header, which grazed the post of the Belgian's goal. It was clear that a goal was imminent, and football is sometimes so capricious that it arrived in the most improbable way possible. With towering players like Konate, Van Dijk, and Ekitike, the recipient of Szoboszlai's free kick was Liverpool's shortest player alongside Wirtz, Alexis Mac Allister. The Argentine, who had already scored against Real Madrid last year, opened the scoring again. He broke free from his marker and connected with a header that Courtois couldn't react to. It was deserved and almost necessary for Real Madrid to wake up, but this new format has its drawbacks.A defeat like this at Anfield hardly affects the final result, it only damages morale. Kylian Mbappe, the most active player in attack alongside Vinicius Junior, who was well contained by the determined Conor Bradley, could have equalized in the final stages with a magnificent first-time shot that went wide of Mamardashvili's net. Xabi Alonso tried to shake things up by bringing in Rodrygo Goes and Trent Alexander-Arnold, who received the loudest boos of the night. The Liverpool fans also responded to his entrance by singing the song in honor of Steven Gerrard, a clear reference to one of the club's legends who did choose to reject Real Madrid and stay at Anfield. And that's the feeling many of the 60,000 Anfield fans would leave with. “You were wrong, Trent,” because Liverpool is still a giant and because on your first visit to Anfield as an opponent, you lost. Courtois, with another sensational save against Gakpo, prevented a repeat of last year's result. The defeat, however, is not dramatic, because Real Madrid has nine points out of a possible twelve. Liverpool has the same number of points, but has made a statement and gained the confidence it needed after winning only two of its last eight matches. Moreover, this Sunday he visits Manchester City. *With information from EFE.But they've made a statement and regained the confidence they needed after winning only two of their last eight matches. Furthermore, they visit Manchester City this Sunday.

*With information from EFE.