Liputan6.com, Jakarta Liverpool secured a crucial victory when they hosted Real Madrid in the 2025/2026 Champions League Matchday 4.
The intense match, which took place at Anfield on November 5, 2025 ended with a narrow 1-0 victory for the Reds.
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The goal that secured Liverpool's victory over Real Madrid was scored by Alexis Mac Allister in the 61st minute.
This result not only secured three crucial points for Liverpool but also ended Real Madrid's perfect record in the Champions League this season.
This victory was a major highlight, especially with the return of former Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold to Anfield as a Real Madrid player.
Liverpool's Dominance and Mac Allister Winning Goal
From the start of the match, Liverpool displayed a dominant performance, aggressively pressuring Real Madrid's defense.
Arne Slot's team registered 15 shots throughout the match, nine of which were on target, demonstrating a high level of attacking intensity.
The goal that broke the deadlock finally came in the 61st minute through a header from Alexis Mac Allister.
The Argentine midfielder successfully capitalized on a precise free kick from Dominik Szoboszlai, making it 1-0 in favor of the Reds.
“It was a good game against a really good team,” Mac Allister told Amazon Prime after the game.
“It is an important win, but we know it doesn’t mean anything as we finished first in the first [phase] of the Champions League last season, and after that, we were out quite early. So we need to keep on going.”
Despite Liverpool's attacking play, Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois deserves praise for his outstanding performance.
He made eight heroic saves, including denying golden opportunities from Dominik Szoboszlai, Virgil van Dijk, and Hugo Ekitike, preventing Liverpool vs. Real Madrid from ending in a more convincing victory.
Real Madrid struggled to develop their game and failed to register a single shot on target throughout the match.
Liverpool's dominance was also evident in their possession, which reached 63 percent in the second half, asserting their control of the match.
Trent Alexander-Arnold: A Bittersweet Welcome at Anfield
The Liverpool vs. Real Madrid match was also an emotional one for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The iconic former Liverpool right-back returned to Anfield, this time wearing a Real Madrid shirt after moving on a free transfer the previous summer.
The welcome Alexander-Arnold received from the Reds' fans was far from warm.
His mural near Anfield was reportedly vandalized hours before the match, and he was booed from the warm-up to every touch of the ball upon coming on as a substitute.
Alexander-Arnold himself had just recovered from a hamstring injury he had suffered since September 16, 2025.
He was brought on as a substitute in the 81st minute, but his performance was deemed ineffective, with one of his crosses being blocked by his Liverpool replacement, Conor Bradley.
Despite the unfavorable reception, Alexander-Arnold had previously stated that he would always love Liverpool.
"My feelings for Liverpool will never change," he said.
Conor Bradley: Carlsberg Man of The Match
Amidst the spotlight on Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool's young right-back, Conor Bradley, was the star of the show.
He successfully contained Real Madrid's dangerous players like Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappé, earning a standing ovation from the Anfield fans.
Liverpool's victory against Real Madrid had a significant impact on the Champions League standings.
Liverpool now climb to sixth place with nine points, while Real Madrid dropped to eighth, also with nine points, but trailing the Reds on goal difference.
This positive result is seen as a potential turning point for Liverpool's previously inconsistent season.
The victory also extended Liverpool's positive record, having previously defeated Aston Villa 2-0, while Real Madrid came into the match on the back of a 4-0 victory over Valencia.