Liverpool’s Wild Night vs Real Madrid Sparks City Showdown: Will They Keep Running Down the Clock?
8 November 2025
Match Recap: Liverpool’s Wild Night Against Real Madrid
German international Florian Wirtz, Liverpool’s rising star, called the recent Champions League clash against Real Madrid “the craziest” since he joined the Reds.
Liverpool beat the visitors 1-0 at Anfield on Tuesday in the Champions League, matchday four.
They now head to Manchester City, visiting the Etihad on Sunday for a Premier League showdown in round 11.
“I think the Real Madrid game helped us regain the energy we needed, and we will be at the same level on Sunday,” Wirtz told the club's official site.
He added it was a good test, and he enjoyed every moment as the crowd celebrated each move. “I am grateful for their support and look forward to more nights like this.”
“We started with the right mentality, we were solid in duels, and we put in enough work to compete with Real Madrid,” he said, insisting that the key was effort at a high level.
“We will run a lot,” he warned with a smile, acknowledging that City will keep the ball and demand extra miles from his teammates.
“They’re in good form, we’re back too, and it should be a good game. We must take our chances and execute a proper plan. Two wins in a row with a clean sheet gave us a real lift.”
“We’re happy to have back-to-back wins; we hope to win again this weekend and head into the international break on a positive note,” Wirtz said, noting his growing connection with teammates and his ongoing effort to contribute every match.
In another note, Wirtz’s move to Liverpool remains a club-record deal estimated around €117 million. Yet after four months in the Premier League, he is still finding his spot under coach Arne Slot, as Dominik Szoboszlai begins to edge ahead in certain spells.
That transfer reality raises a question: would joining City have suited him better? Bayer Leverkusen chief Fernando Caro suggested the Madrid opportunity was not off the table last summer; Madrid’s decision-making is different, he implied.
Facing three main options—Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Liverpool—Wirtz chose the Reds, guided by Slot’s approach, the club’s allure, and the atmosphere after Liverpool’s Premier League title triumph in May. He has repeatedly stated his desire to be part of Liverpool’s big project.
City vs Liverpool now looms as a peak clash after a strong European week for both sides. City hammered Borussia Dortmund 4-1, while Liverpool edged Real Madrid 1-0 at Anfield to bounce back from a rough spell.
Slot, who took charge this season, has reined in the defense. The back four—Conor Bradley, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, and Andy Robertson—has restored solidity at the back and given the team renewed confidence.
Liverpool must win the upcoming City game to stay in touch with Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.
Punchline moment: If City wants us to run this much, they should start selling oxygen by the liter. And if Liverpool keeps this pace, the calendar might finally get a break too.
Punchline 2: If you think you can outpace a Klopp team, pack a spare pair of lungs and a sense of humor—the training ground will provide the rest.
