Liverpool on Wednesday emphatically rebounded from a miserable run as they won 5-1 against Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Champions League.
There were also comfortable wins for Chelsea and Bayern Munich, while record 15-time champions Real Madrid maintained their perfect start in this season’s tournament with a 1-0 victory at home over struggling Juventus.
“I don’t know if it’s a statement, but it is a win and something to build on,” Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk told TNT Sports. “I’ve been in the football business for a while, so not relief. Obviously we are disappointed with losing games, so it’s something we have to deal with, stick together and keep working.”
Photo: AFP
“We don’t get dragged into the negative things that are going around,” he said. “The only way you can play your game is to focus on the task ahead.”
Liverpool traveled to Germany on a four-game losing streak that included Sunday’s home defeat to Manchester United in the Premier League. Among their recent setbacks was also a loss against Galatasaray in their second league-phase match.
Frankfurt had beaten Galatasaray 5-1 and also lost by that scoreline against Atletico Madrid.
Rasmus Kristensen gave the home side the lead in the 26th minute, but Liverpool leveled nine minutes later through former Frankfurt player Hugo Ekitike, who outsprinted three of his former teammates before firing a low effort under goalkeeper Michael Zetterer.
Ekitike did not celebrate, but raised his hands in an apologetic gesture.
Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate headed in corners within five minutes of each other to give Liverpool a comfortable halftime lead.
Florian Wirtz provided his first Champions League assist in the 66th minute, setting up Cody Gakpo for a tap-in, and he did it again four minutes later for a low drive from Dominik Szoboszlai low drive from 30m out.
At Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham scored his first Champions League goal of the season to break a deadlock in the 57th minute.
Most of the credit was owed to Vinicius Jr, who twisted and turned on the left before seeing an angled drive come off the inside of the far post. Bellingham was quickest to react and tap it home.
Madrid joined four other clubs — including Bayern — who were level at the top the league table with a maximum nine points.
Juventus drew their previous two matches in Europe and have not won since Sept. 13.
Three teenagers scored for Chelsea to help the Premier League team overwhelm 10-man Ajax 5-1 at Stamford Bridge.
A chaotic first half saw five goals, a red card and three penalties all converted.
After Ajax midfielder Kenneth Taylor was sent off in the 15th minute for an awful challenge on Facundo Buonanotte, 19-year-old Marc Guiu and Moises Caicedo put Chelsea two up.
Wout Weghorst pulled one back from the spot for Ajax, but Enzo Fernandez and 18-year-old Estevao netted spot-kicks of their own to put Chelsea firmly in control at the break.
Estevao became Chelsea’s youngest goalscorer in the Champions League — shortly after Guiu had broken the record.
The 19-year-old Tyrique George extended Chelsea’s advantage shortly after replacing Guiu at halftime.
In Munich, 17-year-old Lennart Karl became Bayern’s youngest Champions League goalscorer in style, setting the German team on their way to a 4-0 win over Club Brugge. Harry Kane, Luis Diaz and Nicolas Jackson also scored for Bayern.
Substitute Roberto Navarro had an immediate — and stunning impact — as he helped Athletic Bilbao to their first points in this season’s Champions League with a 3-1 comeback victory over Qarabag.
Navarro was brought on in the 65th minute with the score 1-1 and gave the hosts the lead five minutes later with a delightful curled finish into the far corner.
Victor Osimhen scored twice to help Galatasaray to a 3-1 win over Bodo/Glimt, Sporting fought back to beat 10-man Olympique de Marseille 2-1, Tottenham were held to a 0-0 draw against AS Monaco, while Atalanta BC and Slavia Prague also played out a goalless draw.
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