Ronaldo scores 70th as Real beats Liverpool 3-0

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo (R) celebrates after scoring a goal against Liverpool during their Champions League Group B soccer match at Anfield in Liverpool, northern England October 22, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

After rescuing a point with an injury-time goal from Danny Welbeck in a 2-2 draw against Hull last weekend, this time it was Gibbs and Podolski who gave coach Arsene Wenger a happy ending to his 65th birthday.

"We are in a strong position now," Wenger said. "It is down to us now and we have to win our home games."

Third-place Anderlecht, which has one point, sensed victory after Honduras midfielder Andy Najar gave the Belgian champion a 1-0 lead with a powerful header which wrong-footed Arsenal's third-choice goalie Emiliano Martinez in the 71st minute.

But Gibbs equalized in the 89th with a low volley and Podolski, who was close to leaving Arsenal during the offseason, followed up from close range in stoppage time after a cross from the impressive Alexis Sanchez got deflected.

In Group A, Spanish champion Atletico Madrid leads Olympiakos on goal difference, with both teams tied on six points and Juventus lagging three points behind.

Swiss midfielder Pajtim Kasami fired the winner for Olympiakos past Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon in the 36th minute.

It was a goal feast for Atletico, with five different scorers in a 5-0 win against Malmo to show there is indeed life in the team's attack after Diego Costa, who has been brilliant for Chelsea since joining the London club in the offseason.

All the goals came in the second half, courtesy of Spain midfielder Koke; striker Mario Mandzukic; France winger Antoine Griezmann; defender Diego Godin and a last-gasp effort from substitute forward Alessio Cerci.

Elsewhere, Bayer Leverkusen beat Zenit St. Petersburg thanks to second-half goals from Giulio Donati and Kyriakos Papadopoulos to move top of Group C; one point ahead of Monaco, which drew 0-0 at home to Benfica.