Thibaut Courtois of Real Madrid reacts 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 Michael Regan/Getty Images)placeholder image
Thibaut Courtois of Real Madrid reacts 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 Michael Regan/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Liverpool earned a 1-0 victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League at Anfield.
Thibaut Courtois rued the number of fouls that Real Madrid conceded in their loss to Liverpool - but implied that Ryan Gravenberch dived to win the all-important free-kick.
Liverpool’s triumph could have easily been more emphatic but for Madrid goalkeeper Courtois. He made several fine saves throughout the encounter from Dominik Szoboszlai, Virgil van Dijk, Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo.
Real suffered their first loss in the Champions League this season - and just second in all competitions. And Courtois admitted that Los Blancos were defeated at ‘one of the toughest grounds’ in Europe’s elite club competition.
What’s been said
The Belgium international told Moviestar+ (via Mundo Deportivo): "It's a very difficult stadium where you can lose, you have to show your face, play better, but these are matches that are decided by details. It's a shame, I tried to keep the team together, but in the second half, especially, we committed too many fouls near the area, where they are good and that's how they scored the goal.
"We were good with the ball, we defended well, but we lacked something in the final third, where we struggled to get forward and lost possession too often. We need to improve. Ultimately, we're playing at one of the toughest grounds in the Champions League, and we can lose, even if we don't want to. Now we have to beat Olympiacos away and then face Manchester City at home.
"Some fouls are unnecessary, while others are necessary to stop a dangerous attack. The foul that led to the goal wasn't necessary, and I think he dived when he saw Jude's leg. We lacked clean passing and better possession in the opposition's half. That's where we need to improve against good teams away from home. It's a very difficult stadium where you can lose , you have to show your face, play better, but these are matches that are decided by details.”
‘A very difficult ground’
Captain Federico Valverde rued how Madrid defended set-pieces at a ‘very difficult ground’. He said via the club’s website: “We came here to try and win, to take all three points. We know it's a very difficult ground, they press hard. I think we had chances. In the end, we lost because of a set piece that we should have converted much better.
“They headed three consecutive set pieces. We knew they were strong on set pieces and we had to be stronger than them and defend better, with more desire and attitude. We had the first half more under control. Both teams had scoring opportunities, but we felt comfortable with the ball. We needed to fill the box more when we attacked. Sometimes we were a bit too defensive because they are very quick on the counter-attack.
“We wanted to win. It’s always great to win here, like we did once. It’s something unique. Today we had to lose. We want to thank the fans who came out in this weather. We’ll keep improving. It’s a tough blow for us because we were on a run of good games.”
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