On November 5, 2025, Liverpool ended Real Madrid's flawless Champions League campaign with a 1-0 victory. The match, held at Anfield, saw Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister score the winning goal in the 61st minute, heading in a free-kick from Dominik Szoboszlai. This result marked Liverpool's first back-to-back wins since late September, propelling them up to sixth place in the table and level on points with Madrid, who failed to score for the first time this season. The game was a stark contrast to Liverpool's 2-0 defeat of Madrid at Anfield a year ago, with the Spanish giants missing key players like Alexander Isak, Alisson Becker, and Jeremie Frimpong. The match also saw the return of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was booed by Liverpool fans throughout the game, and the singing of Steven Gerrard's name in the directors' box as a dig at the former academy graduate. Despite Real's attacking prowess, Thibaut Courtois made crucial saves, including one from point-blank range, to keep the score level. The game's pivotal moment came in the first half when a free-kick for a handball was ruled out by VAR, and Liverpool responded by redoubling their efforts, ultimately leading to Mac Allister's winning header. The match ended with Liverpool's victory, a significant performance and attitude boost after a recent run of defeats.
