Real Madrid lose 0-1 at Anfield: the limits of Xabi Alonso.

Losing 0-1 at Anfield was the most palatable result Real Madrid could have gotten. It softened the surface, but couldn't hide the reality: Xabi Alonso's system was dismantled by Liverpool from the ground up, and Thibaut Courtois was the only reason preventing a heavier defeat.

Statistics reveal the true state of the game: Courtois carried the team, Real Madrid were harmless.

Liverpool unleashed 17 shots, 9 of which were on target, compared to just 2 from Real Madrid. The home side had 29 touches inside Real's penalty area, creating relentless pressure. Courtois had to make 8 saves to maintain the minimal scoreline, avoiding a scenario even worse than their 2-5 defeat against Atletico Madrid.

As Elias Israel observed: "A goalkeeper who is increasingly outstanding often indicates a team in decline." When the goalkeeper is the brightest star, it's a clear symptom of a malfunctioning system.

Tactics out of sync: the four-midfielder plan collapses.

The tactic that had brought victory in El Clásico – four midfielders with Eduardo Camavinga on the right – did not hold up at Anfield. As Joel del Rio noted, Real Madrid almost stopped pressing after just 20 minutes and were swept away by the intensity of Liverpool's play under Arne Slot.

The worrying aspect wasn't just the performance, but also Xabi Alonso's response. He described it as a "balanced game" and claimed the defeat stemmed from "the details." However, according to MARCA's analysis, the numbers contradict that argument: 17 shots compared to 2, 9 on target, 29 touches in the penalty area – all indicators of a one-sided game.

The lack of flexibility, absence of a Plan B, and being easily outmaneuvered in a high-stakes match show that Alonso still lacks experience when facing top coaches.

Weaknesses in set pieces and aerial balls: disorganized defense.

Set pieces continued to be a major drawback. The only goal, a header from Mac Allister – a player who is 1.75m tall – was another warning sign about the team's spatial organization. The image of Vinicius marking Virgil van Dijk during a corner kick highlighted the chaos in defensive duties.

The right wing is deadlocked: Camavinga is out of position, Rodrygo fails to make a difference.

The right-wing problem remains unresolved. As Pablo Polo points out, a series of experiments have yielded no results: Camavinga has been lackluster in his new role, and Rodrygo's substitution hasn't improved the situation either.

Downward performance curve: a worrying sign from the individual

The positive influence typical of Bayer Leverkusen is no longer evident in many of Alonso's players. Dean Huijsen, 20, is a prime example: he makes defensive errors and has lost his confidence in possession, which was once his strength. Huijsen made 55 passes, the most in the team, but they were mostly safe, sideways passes rather than dribbling breakthroughs.

The contrast becomes even clearer when compared to Real Madrid's 59% possession rate. High possession but a lack of ideas and threat – that's an accurate picture of the attack. Apart from Courtois and Bellingham's commendable effort, the team as a whole didn't offer many bright spots.

A wake-up call for Xabi Alonso.

The 0-1 defeat at Anfield was not just a bad result; it reignited doubts about Xabi Alonso's game management abilities and the true depth of Real Madrid's squad. The immediate challenge is to address the collective weaknesses in set pieces and aerial play, find solutions for the right flank, restore pressing ability and attacking planning, and revive the morale and form of key players.

If systemic cracks aren't addressed promptly, a "sweet" defeat like the one at Anfield could just be the prelude to a deeper void.