Liverpool beat Real Madrid 1-0, Courtois alone at Anfield

Liverpool beat Real Madrid 1-0 at Anfield on a night when Thibaut Courtois did almost everything. The Belgian goalkeeper made at least half a dozen saves but was still unable to stop Alexis Mac Allister's header from scoring the only goal of the game, sealing the Whites' second defeat of the season.

The decisive moment

The goal came from a sloppy zonal defence from Real Madrid, which gave Alexis Mac Allister the space to head the ball into the net. It was the only shot that got past Courtois all night, but it was enough to decide the game.

Courtois and the lonely wall

Courtois displayed reflexes and positioning of the highest order, reminiscent of his brilliance in the 2022 Champions League final. He denied Szoboszlai, Van Dijk, Mac Allister and Ekitike with a series of precise diving and flying runs. However, that spell of magic didn’t last forever and, more importantly, it highlighted a reality: Real Madrid tonight had only one bright spot in a dismal team.

Mbappe - Vinicius deadlock and the "number 9" problem

Real Madrid's attack lacked connection and depth. The duo of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior were silent, lacked dribbling to make a difference and lacked a clear destination in the penalty area. On television, Gareth Bale said frankly: "It's frustrating, I think they've made things worse for themselves." He pointed out that the lack of a fixed "number 9" made the crosses meaningless because there was no target to receive the ball.

Thierry Henry was also harsh when analyzing a situation of Vinicius: from a 1-v-1 advantage, this player pushed himself into a 1-v-3 situation, destroying the opportunity. The silence of the two expensive stars was the direct cause of Real not creating enough pressure on the opponent's goal.

Coaching bench: Xabi Alonso is inferior to Arne Slot

In the battle of wits, coach Xabi Alonso had a day at the mercy of Arne Slot. Although after the match he emphasized that "the team's spirit was still good" and that this defeat was "very different from the defeat at the Metropolitano", the events on the field told a different story: Real repeated systematic errors, from losing in one-on-one situations, failing in aerial battles to lacking intensity at key moments.

The goal conceded from a loose zonal defence was evidence of a lack of organisation. Alonso himself admitted the team lacked threat in the final third and needed to learn to cope better under pressure, but the test at Anfield suggested the solution was not forthcoming.

Anfield and sideline details

The atmosphere at Anfield tonight was thick. The boos were directed at Trent Alexander-Arnold, "an old man returning in white", adding another layer of pressure to the visitors. That stuffy atmosphere stifled Real's ideas of play from the start, especially up front.

Numbers and highlights

• Score: Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid.
• Courtois made at least half a dozen saves, but still conceded a goal from Alexis Mac Allister's header.
• Mbappe and Vinicius did not score, Real's striker pair lacked connection and threat in the final third of the field.
• Real Madrid repeated the mistakes: losing one-on-one, poor aerial play, sloppy zonal defense and lack of intensity.
• This is Real Madrid's second defeat of the season.
• Courtois blocked chances from Szoboszlai, Van Dijk, Mac Allister and Ekitike.

On a night when Real's goalkeeper was at his best, Xabi Alonso's side still failed to get past Anfield. One swallow does not make a season, and Real Madrid need to solve their attack and defensive structure before thinking about bigger goals.