Liverpool expose Madrid’s blind spots at Anfield in a wake-up call for Real Madrid
5 November 2025
Match Overview
Liverpool inflicted a painful defeat on Real Madrid at Anfield, exposing the Spanish side's vulnerabilities as they continue under Xabi Alonso.
Madrid's struggle to create danger against a compact Liverpool side underscored the challenges of a team in transition, despite a historically successful season so far.
Context and Rebuilding
According to The Athletic, the game carried weight beyond a single result, recalling a similar setback at this venue roughly a year earlier when Madrid were defeated 0-2 in the group stage under Carlo Ancelotti with Arne Slot overseeing Liverpool in that phase.
This time Alonso faced the test as the man in charge, returning to the stadium where he previously wore the Liverpool shirt between 2004 and 2009.
Alonso's start as Madrid boss had been marked by early momentum—three straight Champions League wins and ten La Liga victories from 11, with a notable Clasico triumph over Barcelona.
However, two heavy losses—4-0 to Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup semifinal and 5-0 to Atlético Madrid in the league—had already cast doubt on Madrid's capacity to keep pace in the big moments.
Alonso dismissed tying the Anfield defeat to those results, saying in a press conference that there are many ways to lose and that his team fought until the end.
Yet the evidence on the pitch suggested there was still much to learn from a blunt showing against a Liverpool side that knew the arena well.
Key Moments and Reactions
Madrid failed to produce an offensive threat throughout, managing just two shots on goal—one from Federico Valverde and another from Jude Bellingham—while Liverpool's defense and midfield kept the door shut.
For a night that echoed last season's visit to Anfield when Madrid managed similarly little on the attack, Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. could not unlock an organized backline, and Brahim Diaz did not make the expected impact.
Alonso noted in his post-match remarks that Madrid struggled to reach the final third, with the visitors compact and difficult to break down.
Madrid's leadership concerns were highlighted by Trent Alexander-Arnold's reappearance at his old home, as young Madrid talents began to bear the burden of expectation in tough moments.
Further, Alonso's decision to pursue a 4-1-3-1 shape backfired as Camavinga operated on the right flank but failed to influence the game; Rodrygo's introduction in the 68th minute brought little change.
The late substitutions, including bringing Alexander-Arnold in for Guler in the 81st minute, did not alter the balance, and the match finished with Madrid searching for answers.
Courtois's performance offered a glimmer of resistance, pulling off several key saves, while the team paid the price for moments of mental fragility and a lack of clinical finishing in the final third.
Madrid's drop in clean sheets continued this season, with just one shutout away to Juventus in the Champions League standing as a rare positive amid the broader struggles.
Alonso's post-match reflections emphasized the need to avoid easy goals and to grow collectively in high-stakes moments, with the goalkeeper and forwards echoing the same message from the dressing room.
In summary, the night at Anfield was a reminder that Real Madrid are in a transitional phase, with a younger core still finding its voice against a team that had clearly done its homework.
Punchline 1: Madrid's plan tonight was so ambitious the GPS crashed.
Punchline 2: Alonso's young core might win the long game, but not before the bus to the next big game arrives.
