Liverpool took top spot in the Champions League table on Wednesday with a comfortable 2-0 win over defending champions Real Madrid thanks to goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo.

Such was the Reds’ dominance that they had the luxury of a rare missed penalty from Mohamed Salah between the goals, which saw them claim their fifth win from five games and move two points clear at the top of the new-look league format.

On a miserable evening for the Spaniards, now 24th in the 36-team competition, Kylian Mbappé was well tied and also missed a penalty that would have brought Real level against the run of play in the second half.

With Liverpool dominating possession and chances, Mac Allister opened the scoring in the 52nd minute after a great one-two with Conor Bradley in front of a frantic Kop finish at Anfield.

Gakpo sealed the game in the 76th minute with a header past Thibaut Courtois from a cross from Andy Robertson.

John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

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“When you play against teams like Real Madrid it’s always nice to score, but the most important thing is that we won it and I think in a really good way,” said Mac Allister.

“We dominated the game, we deserved it.”

The result is a continuation of coach Arne Slot’s brilliant start at Liverpool, which, in addition to its 100 percent Champions League record, is also at the top of the Premier League.

Liverpool had not beaten Real Madrid since 2009 and had failed to win any of their last eight games.

“It’s a great result, it was a huge game for us. “Obviously they’ve beaten us the last few times in the Champions League so we wanted to come here tonight and put in a performance,” said goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher.

His saved penalty against Mbappé sparked one of the biggest cheers of the evening.

“I don’t really look too much at the player, I was confident and luckily I got back on the right path,” said Kelleher.

The top eight teams automatically qualify for the Champions League round of 16, while the next 16 compete in a home-and-away playoff.