Football – Liverpool scored three goals in nine first-half minutes in a 5-1 Champions League thrashing of Eintracht Frankfurt yesterday, ending their woeful streak of four consecutive losses across all competitions.
Frankfurt started well and opened the scoring when Rasmus Kristensen struck in the 26th minute, firing past the outstretched hands of goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and in off the far post.
But Hugo Ekitike drew the Reds level with a breakaway goal against his former team in the 35th minute, collecting a long pass from Andy Robertson and racing through from the halfway line before calmly slotting past goalkeeper Michael Zetterer.
The floodgates opened as captain Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate headed home from corners in the 38th and 43rd minutes. Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai struck in the second half on a night that turned ugly for the home side.
Chelsea thumped Ajax Amsterdam 5-1 in an eventful if error-strewn Champions League game that included three penalties and a red card in pouring rain at Stamford Bridge.
Ajax, who have now lost all three European games this season, had their fate sealed in the 17th minute when captain Kenneth Taylor was sent off for a dangerous tackle and Marc Guiu, 19, scored a minute later.
Moises Caicedo made it 2-0 nine minutes later and, though Wout Weghorst reduced the deficit with a penalty, his strike was followed by spot kicks late in the first half from Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez and 18-year-old Brazilian Estevao as the Amsterdam side lost discipline.
Bayern Munich outclassed visitors Club Brugge 4-0 in the Champions League with three goals in the first 34 minutes to maintain their flawless start to the season and make it three wins from three matches in the competition.
The German champions have now won all 12 matches across all competitions this season while also staking an early claim for a Champions League knockout stage spot with a maximum nine points.
Monaco’s poor start to their Champions League campaign continued when they were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Tottenham Hotspur in new coach Sebastien Pocognoli’s first game in charge in the competition.
The Ligue 1 side, who have two points from three games, had the clearest chances but Tottenham keeper Guglielmo Vicario proved decisive between the posts. Tottenham, who conceded more than 20 shots in a one-sided encounter, are 15th in the 36-team table on five points while Monaco sit in 27th place, in the elimination zone.
Jude Bellingham scored his first goal since June as Real Madrid saw off a spirited performance by Juventus to maintain their 100 per cent record in this season’s Champions League at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The goal was created by Vinicius Jr, who in the 58th minute took on three Juventus players and made space to shoot. His attempt rebounded off the post for Bellingham to slot home his first goal of the season since returning from shoulder surgery.
Juve are winless since September 13 and have gone seven consecutive matches without a victory in all competitions. They have secured just two points from three Champions League games while Madrid have nine points.
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