2-0! Liverpool Earn First Win of the Season, Real Madrid Fail to Score From 18 Shots, Mbappe Misses Penalty, PSG Suffer Comeback Defeat

On September 5, according to live statistics from ESPN and Opta, Liverpool scored twice within the opening 10 minutes, Real Madrid had 18 shots without scoring, and Paris Saint-Germain had 72% possession in the first half while allowing their opponents no shots, only to concede twice after the break. Mbappe missed a stoppage-time penalty, while Real Betis goalkeeper Rui Silva made six saves as the attacking pair of Vinicius Junior and Mbappe failed to score. The night highlighted a clear gap between statistics and final results.

First, Liverpool's match. Away against Ipswich Town, Liverpool led 2-0 after 10 minutes. Gakpo delivered two crosses from the left, and Isak scored twice in front of goal, once after beating the offside trap for a one-on-one finish and once with a close-range effort. The hosts had barely settled into the match before the score was already changed. Liverpool moved into a more comfortable rhythm after taking the lead.

In the second half, Liverpool dropped deeper and gave their opponents more possession, but their defense remained organized. Ipswich managed only three shots on target, and Alisson was not heavily tested. Liverpool won 2-0 to claim their first Premier League victory of the season and ease the pressure after two opening matches that produced one draw and one defeat. Their defensive counterattacking ability after taking the lead remains effective.

Real Madrid's match was a completely different story. At the Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid recorded 18 shots, six on target, and an expected goals figure of 1.87, but lost 1-0 to Real Betis. Mbappe had five shots, created two excellent chances, saw one saved, and missed a stoppage-time penalty. Vinicius earned a penalty opportunity late in the match, but Madrid failed to take advantage of the chance to equalize.

After Mbappe sent the penalty wide of the right post, the stadium fell silent. Espi also scored a bicycle kick in stoppage time, but VAR ruled it out for offside. Betis goalkeeper Silva produced an outstanding performance with six saves, including several key stops. Real Madrid did create opportunities, but they failed to convert them into goals.

Paris Saint-Germain's match against Monaco followed another dramatic pattern. PSG had 72% possession in the first half, a 91% passing success rate, and Monaco recorded no shots. In the 38th minute, Kvaratskhelia crossed from the left side of the penalty area and Marquinhos finished from close range to put PSG 1-0 ahead. PSG entered halftime with a clear advantage.

Monaco introduced Teze and Nacim during the second half, and both substitutions had an impact. In the 63rd minute, Teze crossed from the right and Nacim headed in from close range to make it 1-1.

After the equalizer, PSG's defense began to struggle. In the 78th minute, Ilenikhena scored from a tight angle on the right side of the penalty area as Monaco took a 2-1 lead. PSG pushed for a response, but Ferran's 89th-minute goal was ruled out by VAR for offside. PSG finished with two draws and one defeat, remaining winless after three Ligue 1 matches and sitting 14th in the table.

These three matches reflected a common issue: major clubs are currently struggling with chance conversion. Liverpool took advantage of two early opportunities and controlled the match tempo; Real Madrid created more shooting chances but lost points because they could not score; PSG dominated the first half but were undone by two Monaco attacks after the break.

Football is decided not only by possession and passing, but also by execution in decisive moments. Mbappe has scored one goal in Real Madrid's first three matches, while his scoring rate over his first three games during his Paris period was higher; PSG have conceded five goals in their opening three matches compared with two at the same stage last season. Liverpool's issue is more about adjusting form, while Real Madrid's finishing problems and PSG's defensive structure require further improvement.

Next, Real Madrid will travel to face Real Sociedad on September 10, with Sociedad having conceded only two goals in their first three matches. PSG will visit Brest on September 11, with Brest currently sixth in the table. Liverpool will host Nottingham Forest on September 8. After the first three rounds of the season, the performances of traditional strong teams have drawn attention, with form, squad integration, and structural issues becoming major topics of discussion.