4th November, 2025
Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid – Anfield Roars Again
The ghosts of Kyiv and Paris were momentarily banished last night at Anfield as Liverpool delivered a gritty, passionate, and thoroughly deserved 1-0 victory over Real Madrid. The result handed Xabi Alonso's men their first Champions League defeat of the season and, more importantly for the Reds, signaled a vital turning point after a tough run of form.
This wasn't a tactical masterclass filled with free-flowing football; it was an absolute war waged in the midfield, decided by a moment of South American tenacity and a towering Belgian goalkeeper.
The Decisive Moment: Mac Allister's Redemption
The match's only goal came in the 61st minute from a familiar source in this fixture: Alexis Mac Allister. After spending over an hour peppering the Real Madrid goal, Liverpool finally broke the deadlock.
The goal was beautifully created by Dominik Szoboszlai, who whipped in an inch-perfect free-kick from the right. Mac Allister, the World Cup winner who also scored against Madrid last season, rose highest in the box to send a bullet header past the heroic Thibaut Courtois. The stadium erupted; the belief was back. This goal was a testament to Liverpool's persistence and Mac Allister's rediscovered knack for stepping up in the biggest games.
The Best Player: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)
In a match won by Liverpool, the Man of the Match honour, ironically, must go to the losing side's goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois.
The Belgian giant was in sensational form, pulling off a string of jaw-dropping saves in the first half that single-handedly kept Real Madrid in the contest. Shots from Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, and a brilliant stop from a Dominik Szoboszlai piledriver were all thwarted by the colossal keeper. Courtois made a staggering eight saves in total. If the scoreline wasn't 1-0, it easily could have been 3-0 or 4-0 to Liverpool, highlighting Courtois’ unmatched performance. He truly embodied the phrase: "The only reason we're still in this."
The Expected Stars Who Played Awfully
While Liverpool's entire team deserves praise for their relentless energy, Real Madrid had several players who failed to meet the lofty expectations, particularly their big names in the attack:
Kylian Mbappé: The reigning goal-king, who arrived with 18 goals in 14 games this season, was virtually non-existent. The collective Liverpool defense, led by the imperious Ibrahima Konaté and the outstanding young right-back Conor Bradley, managed to completely shut down the Frenchman, rendering him harmless for almost the entire 90 minutes. Mbappé looked frustrated, isolated, and rarely managed to find space to utilize his explosive pace.
Jude Bellingham: The highly-rated midfielder had a night to forget. He was largely invisible in his attacking midfield role, stuck tracking back and failing to link up with the forwards. The frustration culminated when he needlessly conceded the free-kick that led to Mac Allister's winning goal. He was completely outshone by the industry and tenacity of the Liverpool midfield.
Dean Huijsen: The young centre-back looked out of his depth. He was shaky in possession, committing mistakes that nearly gifted Liverpool goals and was generally error-prone, drawing criticism from Madrid fans for what many called his "worst game of the season."
For Liverpool, this victory is more than three points; it’s a statement. It confirms that their poor run of domestic form might be behind them and that the famed "Anfield effect" still holds immense power in Europe. They were fierce, organized, and physically dominant, successfully stifling Madrid’s usually rampant attack.
For Xabi Alonso, it's a valuable lesson on his return to his old home—even world-class talent needs to match the intensity of Anfield on a Champions League night. Liverpool were the better team and deserved the win, ending Madrid's perfect run in the competition and blowing the group wide open.
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