3 takeaways from Tuesday's Champions League action

The Champions League returned on Tuesday, and a slate of eight games was highlighted by a 'keeper who shut down the reigning champion, a club that kills games before they begin, and a one-sided affair in Eastern Europe.

Real Madrid brings out best in Hugo Lloris

Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur are level on points, goal difference, goals for, and goals against. The two clubs can't be separated, as they illustrated by playing out a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu. But, if Hugo Lloris hadn't had a performance to remember, it would've been another story.

For whatever reason, Lloris thrives against Real Madrid, as if the French 'keeper is pursuing a personal vendetta against Los Blancos. He was a member of the Lyon squad which knocked the Spanish club out of the 2009-10 Champions League, and his heroics allowed Tottenham to exit Spain's capital with a point.

Among Lloris' seven saves were a sensational stop in the second half in which he used his left foot to keep out a downward header by Karim Benzema, and a brilliant reaction to deny Cristiano Ronaldo. Keylor Navas also enjoyed a good game, but was overshadowed by his counterpart.

Manchester City wastes no time in drawing first blood

It took under less than a quarter-hour for the tension to be killed at the Etihad Stadium. The battle between Manchester City and SSC Napoli was supposed to be a tight affair, but, after Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus each scored in the first 15 minutes, it was clear that the English club would collect three points and maintain its 100 percent record in the Champions League.

City is making a habit of scoring early. In the Citizens' 4-0 victory at Feyenoord Rotterdam, two goals were tallied in the first 10 minutes. Similarly, the English club required three minutes to open the scoring at West Bromwich Albion and boasted a two-goal lead by the 20th minute of its 7-2 demolition of Stoke City.

At the beginning of the season, City was forced to be patient in search of its first goal. But the Citizens' attack is clicking in terrifying fashion, and games are now being put to bed before the opponent can wake up.

Liverpool's finishing touch still there

In what was a laughably unbalanced game, Liverpool put seven goals past NK Maribor en route to the largest margin of victory for an English club away from home in the history of the Champions League. It was a result that Jurgen Klopp needed after Jose Mourinho's conservative tactics led to criticism of the Reds' firepower.

It's hard to imagine how anyone could criticise an attack that includes Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho, and Mohamed Salah, all of whom - along with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Trent Alexander-Arnold - found the back of the net in Slovakia. But, in the reactive world of football, one game is all it takes for a tide to turn, and Klopp will be happy that the critics are silenced until at least the weekend, when Liverpool receives a reality check from Tottenham at Wembley Stadium.

For all its defensive frailties, Liverpool possesses one of the most lethal front lines in European football.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)