Mac Allister, Díaz propel Liverpool and Bayern to flawless Champions League starts

Post by : Mina Rahman

Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Arsenal kept their perfect records in this season's Champions League, each picking up important victories that reshaped group standings.

At Anfield, Alexis Mac Allister produced the match-winner as Liverpool edged Real Madrid 1-0. Thibaut Courtois was exceptional for Madrid with eight notable saves before Mac Allister met a Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick to head home in the 63rd minute, handing the visitors their first loss since September.

Trent Alexander-Arnold returned to Liverpool for the first time since his transfer and was met with vocal jeers from the home crowd, while Real struggled to handle sustained Reds pressure. The result offers Arne Slot's side a potential momentum shift after a difficult run of form.

At the Parc des Princes, Bayern Munich maintained a spotless start with a 2-1 victory over reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain. Luis Díaz struck twice in the opening period but was later dismissed for a reckless challenge on Achraf Hakimi. Díaz's early influence helped Bayern extend a winning sequence to 16 matches across all competitions.

PSG fought back—Joao Neves headed home in the 74th minute—but could not overturn the deficit. Bayern coach Vincent Kompany acknowledged his squad's performance while cautioning that the title race remains open.

In Prague, Arsenal continued their domestic and continental dominance with a 3-0 win at Slavia Prague. Fifteen-year-old substitute Max Dowman (15 years, 308 days) became the youngest player in Champions League history. Bukayo Saka converted a penalty and Mikel Merino added a second-half brace to seal the victory.

Other notable results saw Tottenham claim a 4-0 home triumph over FC Copenhagen, Atletico Madrid defeat Union Saint-Gilloise 3-1, Napoli and Juventus settle for draws, and Monaco take a 1-0 win at Bodo/Glimt.

These outcomes carry significant implications for group dynamics and the broader European campaign, keeping several heavyweight clubs in strong positions as the competition progresses.