Liverpool claimed a well deserved 1-0 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday morning AEDT as the biggest storyline heading into the match did not materialise until the 81st minute.
All eyes were on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s return to Anfield following his free transfer to Madrid in the off-season, with his mural defaced ahead of the match, but the right-back only appeared off the bench to boos from the stands.
Arne Slot’s side looked back to their fluid best and would have won by far more had Thibaut Courtois not pulled off a string of remarkable saves.
Ultimately, the Madrid goalkeeper was eventually beaten just after the hour mark with the Belgian powerless to keep out Alexis Mac Allister’s bullet header after a pinpoint free-kick delivery from Dominik Szoboszlai, who again was immense in midfield for the Reds, after a careless foul from Jude Bellingham on Ryan Gravenberch.
Prior to that, Courtois made a remarkable six big saves to deny Liverpool. Three times he kept out Szoboszlai from outside the box, once he denied Mac Allister and then both Hugo Ekitike and Virgil van Dijk with close range headers from corners.
The Reds thought they may have had a penalty on the cusp of half-time when Eder Militao blocked a strike with his arms, but after a VAR check he was ruled to have been in a natural position.
Liverpool finally break the deadlock at Anfield 👊
Alexis Mac Allister gets on the end of Dominik Szoboszlai’s perfect cross and Thibaut Courtois can’t keep it out this time.
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The home side produced chance after chance, but Courtois’ reflexes were extraordinary, showing why he’s considered one of the best goalkeepers on the planet.
Madrid’s stars did not light up Anfield in the way you’d have expected. Kylian Mbappe was not at his sharpest, Vinicius Jr buzzed down the left but was well handled by Connor Bradley, while Bellingham’s biggest chance was saved well by Giorgi Mamardashvili in the first half.
Bradley, playing in the role Alexander-Arnold used to occupy on the right of Liverpool’s defence, was immense in one of the toughest assignments in world football.
“You talk about winning your one v one battles, Connor Bradley has absolutely done that,” England legend Sue Smith said on Stan Sport’s coverage.
“He’s been outstanding defensively. It’s just about him doing it on a consistent basis because in these big games, he’s shown he can play against the best players in the world.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold is greeted back onto Anfield with a chorus of boos 🥲
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Florian Wirtz played one of his best matches in Liverpool red to date, producing five key passes in an impressive display as Slot’s men put in one of their best performances of the season to make it wins over Madrid at Anfield in back-to-back seasons. If it wasn’t for Courtois, they’d have racked up a big scoreline.
Reds fans will hope this, on the back of a Premier League win over Aston Villa, marks the turning of a corner after a run of six losses in seven matches in all competitions.
Max Dowman becomes the youngest player in Champions League history
Arsenal wonderkid Max Dowman became the youngest player ever to feature in the UEFA Champions League as he came off the bench in a 3-0 win at Slavia Prague on Wednesday morning AEDT.
Dowman replaced Leandro Trossard in the 82nd minute, making his first appearance in Europe aged 15 years and 308 days, breaking the record set by Youssoufa Moukoko in December 2020, when he played for Borussia Dortmund aged 16 years and 18 days.
15 years and 308 days old, the youngest player in Champions League history…
Max Dowman ✨ pic.twitter.com/b7ke7nuIab
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 4, 2025
“What he’s done on the pitch, you cannot teach that, you see it,” Gunners boss Mikel Arteta said after the match. “ It doesn’t matter what his passport says he has delivered.”
The teen prodigy is already the Gunners’ youngest ever starter after playing against Brighton in the Carabao Cup last week and is also the second-youngest player to feature in the Premier League, behind teammate Ethan Nwaneri.
Dowman is an attacking midfielder, who has been at Arsenal since age five.
Arsenal’s victory in Prague came via a double from Mikel Merino and a Bukayo Saka penalty, with the Gunners dominant as they controlled 60% possession and had seven shots on target to three.
More to come…