A great night, no doubt - but the Champions League format means Mac Allister is right to play it down

In many ways, it was another memorable European night at Anfield.

- By ANDY DUNN

Mac Allister (right) celebrates his winner with Ekitike

Arne Slot’s side were back to their thrilling best, Trent Alexander-Arnold was reminded that fans’ loyalty is to the club and not to players, and there were some landmark individual performances, not least from Conor Bradley.

But in other ways, Liverpool's excellent win will be unmemorable. In this season's Champions League grand scheme, it will mean little.

This format - in its second season - guarantees that. As irresistible as Liverpool were against Real Madrid, the attempts at resistance from the Spanish giants were not overly intense.

They already had three wins under their belt and qualification for at least the knockout playoff stage is a formality. That is despite a second successive defeat on Merseyside.