The headline clash of Matchday 4 in the UEFA Champions League took place at a roaring Anfield, where Liverpool hosted a lacklustre Real Madrid. Despite another inspired display from Thibaut Courtois, the Reds emerged victorious 1–0, claiming back-to-back wins over Los Blancos in this season’s group stage.

The game’s first real chance arrived only in the 27th minute when a misplaced pass from Héysen allowed Florian Wirtz to tee up Dominik Szoboszlai. The Hungarian’s shot from close range was brilliantly saved by Courtois with an outstretched leg. Just moments later, controversy struck: a shot from Szoboszlai ricocheted off Aurélien Tchouaméni’s arm inside the box, but after a lengthy VAR review, referee István Kovács astonishingly awarded only a dropped ball. Real then appealed for a penalty themselves when Vinícius Júnior went down under minimal contact from Conor Bradley, but again, nothing was given.

In the closing stages of the first half, Courtois produced two world-class saves to keep his side in the game — first denying a thunderous long-range strike from Szoboszlai, then reacting swiftly to parry a curling effort from Alexis Mac Allister. Between those chances, Jude Bellingham tested Giorgi Mamardashvili at the other end, but the Georgian goalkeeper was equal to it, protecting his near post confidently.

Early in the second half, Liverpool piled on the pressure from a series of corners. Virgil van Dijk twice forced Courtois into stunning reflex saves, and Hugo Ekitike went inches wide with a powerful header. The Belgian keeper seemed unbeatable — until the 68th minute. A pinpoint free-kick from Szoboszlai found Mac Allister, whose header finally broke the deadlock. Courtois got a touch, but the ball slipped agonizingly over his gloves and into the net. 1–0 Liverpool.

Kylian Mbappé had a golden opportunity to equalize for Real late on but dragged his shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box. Courtois then made one more spectacular save, stopping Cody Gakpo’s point-blank strike after a clever assist from Mohamed Salah, before Éder Militão cleared the rebound off the line.

2025-26 UEFA Champions League

Liverpool - Real 1:0 (0:0)
Goals: Mac Allister A., 61 (1:0)

Liverpool: Mamardashvili; van Dijk; Konate; Robertson A. (Kerkez M., 88); Gravenberch R.; Wirtz (Chiesa F., 88); Szoboszlai; Mac Allister A. (Jones Cur., 78); Bradley C.; Salah; Ekitike (Gakpo, 78)
Substitution: Jones Cur. (from 78); Gakpo (from 78); Kerkez M. (from 88); Chiesa F. (from 88)
Bench: Woodman; Gomez; Endo W.; Ngumoha
Yellow Cards: Mac Allister A. 52

Real: Courtois; Carreras Al.; Militão; Huijsen; Tchouaméni; Camavinga (Rodrygo, 69); Güler A. (Alexander-Arnold, 82); Bellingham; Valverde F. (Diaz Br., 90); Vinícius Júnior; Mbappé
Substitution: Rodrygo (from 69); Alexander-Arnold (from 82); Diaz Br. (from 90)
Bench: Lunin Andriy; Gonzalez Fran; Asencio R.; García Fr.; Mendy Fe.; García G.; Dani Ceballos; Endrick
Yellow Cards: Vinícius Júnior 24; Huijsen 45; Bellingham 60; Carreras Al. 95