Liverpool made a colossal statement as they earned another win, this time beating Spanish giants Real Madrid 1-0, with Alexis Mac Allister the match-winner.
Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid
Champions League (4) | Anfield
November 4, 2025
Goals
Mac Allister 61′ (assist: Szoboszlai)
Slot makes the obvious change
Arne Slot opted against ripping up a winning format as he made just one change from the 2-0 victory over Aston Villa at the weekend.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 04: Players of Liverpool pose for a team photograph prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid C.F. at Anfield on November 04, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
That came with Florian Wirtz replacing Cody Gakpo on the left wing; it was a switch many supporters had called for even in the wake of Saturday’s win in the Premier League.
Xabi Alonso meanwhile left Trent Alexander-Arnold on the bench – but it did not shield the right-back from heavy boos as he made his way onto the pitch for the pre-match warmup.
Courtois and VAR spoil first half
From the start, Liverpool were all over their visitors: physical, full of energy and feeding off a crowd in fine voice.
Conor Bradley‘s running battle with Vinicius Jr. – played out on the touchline near Real Madrid‘s bench – was a key feature of the first half, with the right-back inarguably winning it.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 04: Conor Bradley of Liverpool battles for possession with Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid C.F. at Anfield on November 04, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Despite their dominance there was still a matter of creating chances, and Wirtz teed up Dominik Szoboszlai for the biggest of the half, only for the midfielder to be snuffed out by Thibaut Courtois.
Szoboszlai looked to test Courtois from range throughout and one of his shots struck the arm of Aurelien Tchouameni in the box, but though it should have been a penalty the referee somehow ruled it out following a VAR review.
Courtois was, as he was in the Champions League final in Paris, the player who kept Real in the game, pulling off a string of impressive saves to ensure half-time arrived at 0-0.
Half-time: Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 04: Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool gestures during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid C.F. at Anfield on November 04, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Mac Allister bites Real again
The second half began with another huge save from Courtois, this time denying Virgil van Dijk after Szoboszlai flicked on a corner, before then thwarting Ekitike from the resulting set-piece.
After finally thriving in the tried-and-trusted midfield against Villa, Mac Allister stepped up with another crucial goal against Real, this time heading in from Szoboszlai’s free-kick.
Real began to crumble as Liverpool kept up the intensity, snatching loose balls and staying tight whenever possible, forcing mistakes and giving their opponents no time to find their feet.
3D36DF9 Liverpool, UK. 4th Nov, 2025. Alexis Mac Allister of Liverpool celebrates scoring their first goal during the Liverpool vs Real Madrid UEFA Champions League match at Anfield, Liverpool. Picture credit should read: James Baylis/Sportimage Credit: Sportimage Ltd/Alamy Live News
On came Alexander-Arnold to a chorus of boos from the four stands of Anfield, along with a fiery rendition of Steven Gerrard‘s chant.
Cody Gakpo and then Salah had big opportunities to double Liverpool’s lead late on, only to be denied by Courtois and the sprawling Eder Militao – but 1-0 was enough to clinch a priceless victory.
TIA Man of the Match: Conor Bradley
Referee: Istvan Kovacs (ROU)
Liverpool: Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson (Kerkez 88′); Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister (Jones 78′); Salah, Wirtz (Chiesa 88′), Ekitike (Gakpo 79′)
Subs not used: Woodman, Misciur, Gomez, Endo, Ngumoha
Real Madrid: Courtois; Valverde, Militao, Huijsen, Carreras; Tchouameni, Camavinga (Rodrygo 69′); Guler, Bellingham, Vinicius Jr.; Mbappe
Subs not used: Lunin, Gonzalez, Endrick, Alexander-Arnold, Gonzalo, Asencio, Ceballos, F.Garcia, Brahim, Mendy
Next match: Man City (A) – Premier League – Sunday, November 9, 4.30pm (GMT)