Eight goals in Paris, Liverpool thrashed, Kylian Mbappe and Arsenal make statements: How crazy UEFA Champions League night unfolded

Find out everything that happened as the second round of fixtures on Matchweek Five of the UEFA Champions League threw up a night of high drama across the continent. Liverpool's well-documented travails took another alarming twist as Arne Slot's side were humbled at home by PSV, while Tottenham's defensive deficiencies returned in Paris - but Arsenal produced a statement win at the Emirates.

Highlights: Liverpool thrashed as PSV hit FOUR at Anfield

Video credit: TNT Sports

Van Dijk's defensive woes cannot mask Salah slump

Liverpool's struggling season plumbed new depths as they were soundly beaten by PSV in the UEFA Champions League at Anfield.

The pressure continues to mount on Arne Slot, who has overseen nine defeats in his side's last 12 games in all competitions, this time against the Eredivisie leaders.

Transfers

Liverpool and Man City to battle for Bournemouth star - Paper Round

16 hours ago

The fear among supporters who once again streamed out of the ground early is that their side may have not reached rock bottom yet.

"With each passing game, Arne Slot looks further from solving the problem," journalist Rory Smith told TNT Sports' Goals Show Xtra.

Slot sought solace in the Champions League, where his side had won three of their previous four outings - including victory over Real Madrid on home soil earlier this month - but Virgil van Dijk's 'ludicrous' penalty giveaway set the tone for another tough night for Liverpool.

'Struggling big time' - Panel discuss 'uncomfortable' reality of Jota tragedy on Liverpool

Video credit: TNT Sports

That strong position is now slipping away, and while defensive troubles reared themselves once more, Mohamed Salah's indifferent form in front of goal may be worrying Reds supporters.

The Egyptian was ineffectual going forward, having not scored or assisted in his last four matches in all competitions, but speaking in the TNT Sports studio afterwards, former midfielder Steven Gerrard sees no alternative but to persist with the out-of-sorts talisman.

"What's the other option? I think Federico Chiesa has always been more of an impact player, and it would send the wrong message to everyone who is watching the football club," said Gerrard.

"They're in a real difficult moment, but he's a senior player, he's the vice captain, and he's been the team's talisman. He's been an iconic figure, but that doesn't mean he should start every game. But whoever was managing Liverpool right now would pick Mo Salah."

‘It’s CRIMINAL’ – Gerrard, McManaman unhappy with Salah, Kerkez for role in PSV goal

Video credit: TNT Sports

Marauding Rice makes anything possible for Arsenal

Mikel Arteta looked to his bench and turned one point into three as Arsenal produced a statement win over Bayern Munich to remain the only side in this season's competition with an impeccable record after five matches.

Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli turned in the match-winning second-half goals, but it was Declan Rice who was named Player of the Match, standing head and shoulders above anyone else on the Emirates pitch after another virtuoso display.

Rice one of the greatest players we’ve ever seen on set pieces - Keown

Video credit: TNT Sports

The Arsenal machine rolls on. Rice produced one of the most complete performances of last season's Champions League when he scored two free-kicks in defeating Real Madrid at the quarter-final stage last term, but here he showed why he remains the heartbeat of Mikel Arteta's side, driving forward like a human wrecking ball, dragging his team-mates with him over the line.

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown told TNT Sports: "I was out of my seat in that second half when Declan Rice made a tackle near the dug-out. They went through the gears, Arsenal, and they've laid down another marker tonight. Bayern Munich found out tonight what a contender Arsenal are in the Champions League this season.

Highlights: Arsenal lay down marker with statement win over Kane’s Bayern

Video credit: TNT Sports

"Rice was galloping around that pitch. It was as though tonight they gave him the keys to the city. It was the most complete performance that I've seen this young man play."

The substitutes were a show of strength from the squad, but with the mainstay Rice in such good form, Arsenal look imperious in Europe.

Was PSG 5-3 Spurs really an eight-goal thriller?

Such is the new format of the Champions League; high-scoring nights such as Wednesday have become relatively commonplace. Some have suggested that with reduced jeopardy, questionable defending has flourished, even from the usually most watertight of rearguard units.

What was witnessed at the Parc des Princes was, at best, regular lapses in concentration from players who have won World Cups and received over 100 caps for their country.

But who cares?

Highlights: Vitinha stars with hat-trick as PSG overcome Spurs in eight-goal epic

Video credit: TNT Sports

Vitinha danced his way to an improbable hat-trick in the sort of match that made Peter Crouch wonder on TNT Sports' Goals Show Xtra how simultaneously watching and reporting on multiple Champions League games all at once was physically possible.

Every time presenter Matt Smith turned over to Paris, there was another goal. Glenn Hoddle was getting his fingers out on the gantry.

This was Tottenham in all their glory. Fearless, courageous going forward, porous at the back, decisively punished on the hour-mark when Fabian Ruiz struck to make it 3-2 to the hosts, after Romero's costly pass inside to Pape Sarr was pounced on.

Vitinha scored a hat-trick in an open match in Paris

Image credit: Getty Images

"This is an easy giveaway that you can't afford to do in the Champions League," former Spurs goalkeeper Joe Hart said. "At the top end against the European champions, that is clinical."

Thomas Frank is trying to evolve the side, taking them away from some of the traits under Ange Postecoglou. They had a solid shape during the first half, especially, but certain old habits die hard. Spurs led twice, but PSG never panicked.

Tottenham are still in a strong position to progress. They will not be judged on a night like this against the defending European champions, but it was a ruthless reminder of just how much work they still have on their plate.

Mbappe clinic reminds everyone who is top dog

Much of the mood music around Real Madrid this season has been set by Vinicius Junior and the ongoing drama involving his relationship with head coach Xabi Alonso.

There remain doubts over whether the player will extend his contract at the Santiago Bernabeu, but one man who has staunchly defended his manager in public is Kylian Mbappe.

Highlights: Mbappe hits FOUR as Real win seven-goal thriller

Video credit: TNT Sports

At a ground where Madrid had never previously won, Mbappe plundered four goals to remind everyone he remains the club's leading marksman.

In a World Cup year, where the incentive of a Ballon d'Or might await him, the Frenchman scored a hat-trick inside seven minutes (6:42) - becoming the second-fastest player to do so in the competition's history, as per Opta.

Only Liverpool's Mohamed Salah was 30 seconds quicker with his treble against Rangers in October 2022.

"It was very important to win again," Mbappe said after the match. "We know that three games without a win is a lot for a team like us. It was a difficult game; it's hard to win here. We started badly, losing the ball, we conceded the first goal, then we controlled it, we scored goals, and second half it was a bit back-and-forth, we scored, [then] they did."

Mbappe has nine Champions League goals already to his name in just five appearances this term. This was his second hat-trick, collecting the match ball also against FC Kairat in September.

Only eight shy of equalling Real Madrid legend Raul Gonzalez, who sits in fourth on the all-time Champions League scoring list, you would not bet against him surpassing that this season.

More late Simeone drama at the Metropolitano

Dramatic late goals have been a theme of Atletico Madrid matches in this competition since the change in format.

It was Virgil van Dijk's 90th-minute header which consigned Diego Simeone's side to a 3-2 defeat at Anfield on the opening night, but Atletico could enjoy a familiar winning taste to end Inter's 100% start.

Highlights: Atleti break Inter hearts at the death

Video credit: TNT Sports

Jose Maria Gimenez headed in a 90th-minute winner to defeat RB Leipzig on Matchday One during the 2024/25 season - and history repeated itself at the Wanda Metropolitano on Wednesday night as the Uruguay defender rose to score his first goal since that very evening some 14 months ago.

"The last of the old warriors stood up. This was a very Atletico occasion," said Rory Smith.

Simeone, dressed in all black, roamed down the touchline to join in the celebrations, 55 years young, delighting in having beaten one of his former clubs.

It is now back-to-back defeats in all competitions for Inter under Cristian Chivu, but for Atletico, it continues a very curious case: continued struggles on the road, but almost impossible to knock them in their fortress.

Stream the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more on TNT Sports and discovery+

Premier League