Alexis Mac Allister scored a second-half header to give Liverpool a 1-0 win over Real Madrid in a high-profile UEFA Champions League clash at Anfield on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

The match held additional gravity with Madrid's Trent Alexander-Arnold making his return to Anfield after leaving Liverpool over the summer. Alexander-Arnold joined Liverpool's youth academy when he was six years old and played nine seasons with the senior team, winning two Premier League titles and a Champions League crown.

He began the match on the bench but received mixed reactions from the fans in Liverpool as he came on a substitute in the 82nd minute.

"It was an intense game, top top class in European football," Madrid manager Xabi Alonso said. "We needed (Alexander-Arnold's) quality, we needed his threat from the wing, (the boos) could be expected, he is professional and was ready for it."

FINAL: Liverpool 1, Real Madrid 0

A well-deserved win at Anfield for Liverpool, which got nine shots on target against the 15-time European champions. Even in the loss, that's another spectacular performance from Real Madrid's Thibaut Courtois, making his case as the best goalkeeper in the world.

Alexis Mac Allister goal! Liverpool takes 1-0 lead

Alexis Mac Allister's goal in the 61st minute broke the ice in a previously-scoreless match at Anfield.

Halftime: Liverpool 0, Real Madrid 0

25th minute: Liverpool 0, Real Madrid 0

Real Madrid have dominated possession in the first 25 minutes of the match and both teams have managed three shots, though none have landed on target.

Liverpool v Real Madrid underway

Tuesday's Champions League clash has kicked off at Anfield between Liverpool and Real Madrid.

Liverpool has looked lively in the first five minutes, with Hugeo Ektike and Florian Wirtz getting touches in the Madrid penalty area already.

Real Madrid lineup vs Liverpool

Courtois, Valverde, Militao, Huijsen, Carreras, Tchouameni, Camavinga, Arda Güler, Bellingham, Vinicius, Mbapp

Liverpool lineup vs Real Madrid

Mamardashvili, Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Salah, Wirtz, Ekitike

Xabi Alonso thanks former player Florian Wirtz

Xabi Alonso credits Florian Wirtz with helping him land the Real Madrid manager's job after they won a German league and cup double together at Bayer Leverkusen, and says the midfielder just needs time to rediscover his best form at Liverpool.

The 22-year-old was named the German top flight's player of the season in the 2023-24 season, when Alonso guided Leverkusen to the Bundesliga title without losing a game.

Liverpool signed Wirtz for a reported fee of 100 million pounds ($134.21 million), with a further 16 million pounds in potential bonuses, in June, the same month Alonso debuted as Real head coach at the Club World Cup.

Wirtz is yet to score for Liverpool in 14 appearances but Alonso, who played 210 games for Liverpool between 2004-2009, said it would take him time to adjust to life in England.

"It's a big change for him to come here to Liverpool after so many years in Germany, his whole life, and a few years in Leverkusen," Alonso told reporters on Monday ahead of a Champions League group-stage meeting with Liverpool on Tuesday.

"He needs to adapt, but he's a really special player. He has the quality, he has the personality, he's competitive.

– Reuters

How to watch Liverpool vs Real Madrid

Tuesday's mach can be streamed with Paramount+

Watch UEFA Champions League on Paramount+

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Liverpool beats Real Madrid in Champions League clash at Anfield: Highlights

Reporting by Jesse Yomtov, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect