Mbappe Seeks Redemption at Anfield: Real Madrid’s Star Returns to Silence Liverpool
4 November 2025
Mbappe Returns to Anfield in Search of Redemption
Less than a year after a nightmare night, France forward Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid's top scorer, returns to Anfield on Tuesday to reaffirm his comeback to top form and erase doubts for good.
That clash had represented a collapse for the attacker, a crisis he has learned to navigate with poise and skill. He had been viewed as Madrid's savior during a period of upheaval after three defeats in five games in late November 2024.
Yet he failed to swing the match, notably missing a penalty in the 0-2 defeat, plunging him into an unprecedented confidence crisis.
Another setback followed—a 1-2 loss to Athletic Bilbao in early December—which appeared to spark a dramatic reset as he regained pace and his appetite for goals after a deep self-review.
The upcoming meeting in the Champions League at Anfield ushers in a moment of truth: Mbappe is determined to prove he belongs among the elite and to help Madrid pursue major trophies.
The France captain later admitted he had “reached the bottom” under pressure and off-field issues, before a mental recalibration unlocked his form with the royal club.
In a press conference, he said, “I changed my mentality; I told myself I cannot give the worst, I must be better, and I must prove I am a high-quality player who can help this team.” He added that overthinking sometimes hindered his play and vowed not to come to Madrid to perform poorly.
Unprecedented since Cristiano
Mbappe is enjoying the best start of his Madrid career in numbers, with 18 goals in 14 matches across La Liga and the Champions League, thriving in big derbies such as the Clasico against Barcelona, and arriving at a peak not seen since a troubling World Club Cup run in the United States (a 0-4 semi-final loss to his former club PSG).
No Madrid player had such a bright start since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2015 (20 goals in 11 Liga matches). He has also become the first Madrid forward since Cristiano to win the European Golden Boot, a milestone celebrated at the Bernabéu last Friday and fueling comparisons with his idol, whose images adorned his childhood room in the Paris suburb of Bondy.
In an interview with Marca, he said, “Cristiano is the reference here in Madrid. He is number one. I had a good year, barely. He did that for nine years. I must wait a long time before people compare me to him legitimately.”
But Tuesday’s performance at Anfield could cement his place among that elite and fuel his bid to win the Champions League and the Ballon d'Or, finally.
Punchline 1: If Mbappe keeps this up, the Kop might start selling popcorn—because every shot could become a mini-action movie.
Punchline 2: And if the ball misbehaves again, Mbappe will politely ask it to calm down—this isn’t a free-wheel Wednesday, buddy.
