In the end, it took three Liverpool players to break Real Madrid's resistance. The Premier League champions had been searching for the breakthrough against Xabi Alonso's side for an hour of the UEFA Champions League clash at Anfield, only for their efforts to be repeatedly repelled by the heroics of Thibaut Courtois in the Madrid goal.
Just when it was starting to look like it could be one of those nights for Liverpool, Ryan Gravenberch won a free kick in dangerous proximity to the opposition box, Dominik Szoboszlai whipped in a tantalizing ball which Alexis Mac Allister nodded deftly beyond Courtois to give the hosts a precious lead at Anfield.