Liverpool were back to their best in beating Real Madrid 1-0, with the media lauding an excellent performance in front of an electric Anfield.
Arne Slot‘s side picked up a vital three points in the Champions League as Alexis Mac Allister‘s goal seperated the sides.
Had it not been Thibaut Courtois, Liverpool’s win could have been by a wider margin, as Trent Alexander-Arnold made a miserable return to Anfield.
Here’s how the media reacted to the Reds’ victory.
Liverpool’s best performance of the season
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
James Pearce of the Athletic lauded Slot and his team:
“This was unquestionably Liverpool’s most complete performance of the season. The tempo and intensity were at a level they hadn’t previously reached since clinching the Premier League title in April.
“It was the kind of special European night at Anfield where the players fed off the energy from the stands. And credit to Slot, who got his selection spot on…
“Last November, Liverpool beat Real Madrid and then swept aside Manchester City a few days later. How Slot will hope history repeats itself with a trip to the Etihad next up on Sunday. Standards must be maintained.”
Tum Balogun of the Mail was another who felt Liverpool and Slot got it spot on:
“THAT FEELS BIG! Liverpool win it and more than deserved it.
“The sense of poise and control that marked their title-winning campaign returned for this game and it should send a message to those who have written them off for major honours this season.
“Fair play to Arne Slot and his troops for producing their best display of the season. They’ll enjoy this one before their next mammoth test.”
Talk of this Liverpool side being past its best was “massively premature”, according to David Lynch:
“Liverpool got absolutely everything they deserved tonight.
“A fantastic, gritty, classy performance against one of the best teams in Europe and a reminder that the talk of this team’s demise was massively premature.”
Liverpool restricted Real Madrid to just 0.45 xG tonight. That's the lowest figure Madrid have registered in any game in over a year (0.47 vs Villarreal Oct 2024). #LIVRMA #UCL pic.twitter.com/3bQNii3Z5m
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) November 4, 2025
Sam Wallace of the Telegraph said Liverpool stood tall when it really mattered against huge opponents:
“They have lost to Brentford and Crystal Palace in recent weeks, and even the beleaguered Man United have scored a victory at Anfield in recent times, but against the greatest side in the history of European football, Liverpool can still seize the moment…
“This is a very accomplished Real team but they came up against a Liverpool side that had the power to run through them and then defend their lead stoically.”
The *Guardian*‘s Andy Hunter thought this was a sign that Liverpool are truly “back” this season:
“Ultimately it was not about who was back at Anfield but what was back.
“The Liverpool of Arne Slot’s title-winning debut season was the answer and, for the second November in succession, Real Madrid did not have one of their own.”
The *Mail*‘s Oliver Holt thoroughly enjoyed a “memorable” European night for the Reds:
“Outside Anfield, the fireworks sputtered and died in the teeming rain. Inside Anfield, it was a place for the rocket’s red glare and bombs bursting in air.
“It was a place of roars and frenzy and chanting for Stevey Heighway on the wing and for Conor Bradley, for heroes old and new. It was raw and it was visceral.
“And when it was done and the mighty Real Madrid had been vanquished and this old stadium had delivered another passion play on another memorable European night under the lights, Liverpool’s season felt alive again, alive with possibility and hope and ambition.”
So many individuals excelled for Liverpool at Anfield
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)
Henry Winter hailed a superb performance from Andy Robertson, as he rolled back the years:
“Andy Robertson is the left-back who just can’t be left out. He has such high standards, demanding of himself and others.
“He brings intensity, belief and defensive nous. He’ll need occasional rest, he’s 31, Kerkez can step in, but LFC look tougher to beat with Robertson.”
Alexis Mac Allister's game by numbers vs. Real Madrid:
32/35 passes completed
5 duels won
4 shots
3 tackles
2x possession won
2 shots on target
1 goal
The match winner. ?? pic.twitter.com/PM4EbLAnLL
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) November 4, 2025
Sam McGuire also claimed it was an extremely encouraging performance from Wirtz on the left wing:
“Wirtz on the left was everything I thought it’d be when he signed.
“Created the most chances, completed all of his dribbles and put in a serious graft out of possession.”
ESPN’s Beth Lindop couldn’t help but poke fun at Trent’s expense, as well as hailing several Liverpool players:
“Liverpool’s biggest and best win of the season. To a man, every player immense.
“Alexis Mac Allister back to his best, Florian Wirtz lively on the left. And Conor Bradley? The best right-back inside the stadium.”