Liverpool vs. Real Madrid final score: UEFA Champions League updates, highlights, result, stats as Mac Allister gives Reds superb win

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ANFIELD, LIVERPOOL — Alexis Mac Allister headed Liverpool to a 1-0 win over Real Madrid at a febrile Anfield.

Enmity bubbled away pre-match as the prodigal son returned. Trent Alexander-Arnold's mural in Liverpool was vandalised and the Melwood Academy product was roundly booed during the warm-ups.

Having only recently returned from injury, Alexander-Arnold was kept in cold storage on the bench until the 81st minute and watched his former team-mates dominate the 15-time European champions.

Only a masterclass from Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois kept the deadlock intact for an hour before Mac Allister headed home a free-kick from the excellent Dominik Szoboszlai. 

Liverpool now have nine points from four Champions League matches after a restorative victory for boss Arne Slot that puts them level on points with Madrid.

Liverpool vs. Real Madrid final score

Venue: Anfield, Liverpool
Referee: Istvan Kovacs (Romania)

Starting lineups:

Liverpool (4-2-3-1, right to left): 25. Giorgi Mamardashvili (GK) — 12. Conor Bradley, 5. Ibrahima Konate, 4. Virgil van Dijk, 26. Andy Robertson — 38. Ryan Gravenberch, 10. Alexis Mac Allister (17. Curtis Jones) — 11. Mohamed Salah, 8. Dominik Szoboszlai, 7. Florian Wirtz — 22. Hugo Ekitike (18. Cody Gakpo)

Real Madrid (4-2-3-1 right to left): 1. Thibaut Courtois — 8. Federico Valverde, 24. Dean Huijsen, 3. Eder Militao, 18. Alvaro Carreras — 14. Aurelien Tchouameni, 6. Eduardo Camavinga (11. Rodrygo), — 15. Arda Guler (12. Trent Alexander-Arnold), 5. Jude Bellingham, 7. Vinicius Junior — 10. Kylian Mbappe

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Courtois engaged in a personal battle with Szoboszlai in front of the Kop during the first half, including one stunning reaction stop when the Austria midfielder was teed up by the recalled Florian Wirtz.

Courtois also repelled a couple of fizzing efforts from outside the box by Szobozlai before denying Mac Allister with the final action of the half.

Aurelien Tchouameni survived a VAR review for handball when he blocked a shot, somewhat inevitably from Szoboszlai. Jude Bellingham had Madrid's best chance of the opening 45 minutes but was repelled by Giorgi Mamardashvili at his near post.

Liverpool ramped up the pressure when the action resumed, with Courtois thwarting Virgil van Dijk and Hugo Ekitike from successive corners. From a 61st-minute set-piece, Mac Allister broke their resistance.

Kylian Mbappe existed on the margins of the contest but almost found a wonderful half-volleyed equaliser with 15 minutes to play. Alexander-Arnold was then sent out for what must have been a torturous cameo. Despite their handsome early season lead in La Liga, tonight showed Xabi Alonso's Madrid remain a work in progress.

Liverpool vs Real Madrid stats

Liverpool vs. Real Madrid live updates, highlights, and commentary

90+4 mins: Alexander-Arnold overhits a cross to universal merriment.

90+2 mins: An inswinging corner is headed clear by Konate. Mbappe tries to run Szoboszlai but has a heavy touch and runs out of pitch.

90 mins: Well, Valverde got a hot minute in midfield. Here's Brahim Diaz. Five minutes to be added on. 

88 mins: More fresh legs for the hosts as Kerkez and Chiesa replace Robertson and Wirtz.

87 mins:  Almost another Liverpool assist for Alexander-Arnold. His prodded clearance only reaches Salah, who is thwarted by a last-ditch block.

86 mins: With the timing of a great thespian, Bradley expertly man-handles Vinicius to snuff out a Madrid attack. Superb defending. 

83 mins: Alexander-Arnold getting serenaded by the Steven Gerrard song. He, of course, only tried to leave Liverpool once and didn't succeed.

81 mins: Well, here he comes. Alexander-Arnold ready to come onto his old stomping ground into a volley of boos and invective. Guler makes way. Valverde has nine minutes to get this abject Madrid midfield into shape.

79 mins: Double change for Liverpool as Gakpo and Jones replace Ekitike and the potential match-winner Mac Allister.

75 mins: Ooooohhhh! Mbappe has been abject but almost pulls a beautiful half-volleyed equaliser out of the bag. The shot just fades away from a grasping Mamardashvili and his far post.

70 mins: Having engaged in basketball games all season, Liverpool can now sit back and pick Madrid off or win fouls whenever one of their defenders leaps in. Salah and Ekitike doing that expertly.

68 mins: Camavinga the man to make way. That will mean Guler into a central role, Bellingham a little deeper and Rodrygo on the right.

66 mins: There's some, I'd say overdue, activity on the Madrid bench. Rodrygo is coming on. Take your pick in terms of who's coming off. Could be any of them.

61 mins: GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!!!!!!!!!  Alexis Mac Allister!!!!!!

Boy had that been coming. Szoboszlai is bang on the money with this delivery and Mac Allister gleefully heads home. It survives a VAR check for offside as it appears Eduardo Camavinga plays the Argentine midfielder on. Well done by Mac Allister to time his movement perfectly, as he appears to be offside until just as the ball is delivered.

Watch in USA:

Alexis Mac Allister breaks the deadlock and Anfield ERUPTS 💥 pic.twitter.com/I91a1C70oU

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 4, 2025

VIDEO: Watch Liverpool goal in UK | Watch in Australia

60 mins: Bellingham sends Gravenberch sprawling and is deservedly booked. Another free-kick for Szoboszlai to ponder.

59 mins: A Madrid attack. Carreras goes on a mazy run into the Liverpool box. Nosebleed territory for the young left-back, who prods wide of the far post.

55 mins: Tchouameni brings Szoboszlai down to give Liverpool another set-piece opportunity. The Austrian's looping ball doesn't meet the mark this time. Madrid have been wretched since the interval.

52 mins:  He does and Courtois punches clear. Rinse and repeat.

51 mins: Gravenberch does Bellingham all ends up, gets the wrong side of the Madrid midfielder. A free-kick about 25 yards out to the left of centre. You'd better believe Szoboszlai will fancy it.

48 mins: AND AGAIN!  Ekitike meets the following corner and Courtous turns over at full stretch. Corner No. 3 of the flurry sees Ekitike head off target. No Madrid defensive work of note from any of those.

47 mins: Courtois again!  Wirtz takes an inswinging corner from the left, it's flicked on at the near post, Van Dijk heads goalwards but the the Madrid keeper turns over.

Kickoff: 2nd Half

We're back underway. Trent is on... Only kidding, no changes for either side.

Halftime

Stinger from Mac Allister from 25 yards. Courtois is equal to it again. He's been the best player on the pitch, which tells enough of a story. Although, aside from the Szoboszlai chance inside the area, Madrid are restricting Liverpool to potshots at arguably the best goalkeeper on the planet.

45+1 mins: Into two minutes of stoppage time. Well, if you're going to get booked... Huijsen absolutely scythes through Ekitike to pick up a caution. 

45 mins: Bellingham allowd to glide into the Liverpool box, around Konatre but Mamardashvili stands firm at his near post.

43 mins:  Szoboszlai against Courtois again as the Liverpool man lets fly and Madrid's No. 1 tips around the post. The visitors deal with the corner.

40 mins: Oh, well. Having just praised Mr Kovacs, Vinicius has taken a nonsensical dive in the Liverpool box. He's already been booked and should be walking.

36 mins: Anyway, that's certainly fired everyone up. Szoboszlai, who's right on it tonight, aims a low drive from the edge of the box that Courtois saves.

33 mins: Well, well. Ivan Kovacs has given the ball back to Madrid, seemingly deciding that wasn't a handball at all, because Tchouameni was not in an unnatural position, nor making his body bigger. Feels like the right call via a messy means. As you'd expect, it's gone down well.

32 mins: The referee is going to the screen.

31 mins: Off, it's really hard to tell. It hits Tchouameni's left hand, which was covered by his midrif on best camera angle.

30 mins: Liverpool's fluid front three is causing increasing problems down the Madrid left as Wirtz and Salah double up. Szoboszlai has a shot charged down by Tchouameni right on the edge of the box. Free-kick. Ohhh, that might be inside, you know. Over to VAR...

27 mins: Fabulous save from Courtois!  Huijsen's sliding interception runs down the Liverpool right and Wirtz is onto it like a flash. He lays it on a plate for Szoboszlai but the Madrid goalkeeper thrusts out his left boot to keep the deadlock intact. World-class goalkeeping.

26 mins: Liverpool snuff out a Madrid counter but give the ball away and have to bed in. Prior to that attack, Wirtz again won the ball high up in the opposition half. Nothing came of it but he's looked sharp in those moments.

24 mins: Nice flighted delivery from Szoboszlai but Konate's header back towards the penalty spot is cleared.

23 mins: Vinicius tracks Bradley back going the other way and makes a comedically bad foul. He's deservedly booked and looks roundly delighted with life.

21 mins: Bradley shoulders Vinicius to the floor. He wants a foul but there's not enough in that. 

17 mins: First chance of the evening for Mbappe. He opens his body up and clatters it closer to the second tier of the Anfield Road End than the goal. Still, nicely worked by Madrid up until that point.

10 mins: Wirtz pops up on the right to bully Madrid out of possession. He finds Szoboszlai, who sets it back to Mac Allister to drive over from the edge of the box.

8 mins: It was round one to Bradley but here he shoves Vinicius over and Madrid have a free-kick in a dangerous position on the left. Guler to take. Short to Vinicius, who chips the ball in and Konate powers a header clear.

7 mins: First involvement for Vinicius. Bradley drops right off. Maybe not the most advisable course of action as Vini gets moving, but the Liverpool right-back sticks to his task and emerges with the ball.

5 mins: Jude Bellingham getting booed, presumably because he's Trent Alexander-Arnold's mate. Andy Roberton having his name sung because he's Alexander-Arnold's mate who stayed. All good fun!

3 mins: Wirtz has an early dip at Valverde but there's nothing there for him.

Kickoff: 1st Half

Federico Valverde wins the toss and turns the teams around. Liverpool kicking towards the Kop in the first period.

5 mins before kickoff: There are versions of You'll Never Walk Alone where they sort of go through the motions. That wasn't one of them. It's raucous in here. The teams are out into a wall of noise.

10 mins before kickoff: We're pretty much full here 10 minutes before kickoff. The volume cranking up ahead of one of the great European fixtures.

20 mins before kickoff: Alexander-Arnold was the first visiting player out for a walk arond the playing field earlier. There wasn't really anyone in then. A few moments ago, he was the last Madrid substitute out to warm up. Big boos.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was the first Real Madrid player out for a wander around Anfield. Not really anyone here to boo him yet, but the travelling supporters already in gave him a warm ovation. @sportingnews pic.twitter.com/8vRuJpoqhl

— Dom Farrell (@DomFarrell1986) November 4, 2025

40 mins before kickoff: Liverpool squad are out going through their warmups, with the Anfield rain still teeming down. Given Salah's obvious and often lethal preference to cut inside, it's a talent-stacked line-up that could come to look quite narrow with Wirtz on the other side of the attack, Considering Madrid's threat from wide areas and in transition, this is certainly something to keep an eye on.

1 hr 10 mins before kickoff: And the hosts - the rumours were true. Florian Wirtz starts on the left wing, completing the front three alongside Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike. That might be the best bet for the £116m man as things stand. The title-winning midfield combination of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai will get to do their thing in the centre of the park. 

The Reds to take on Real Madrid 👊🔴 #UCL

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 4, 2025

1 hr 15 mins before kickoff: The teams are in. First the visitors - as expected, Trent Alexander-Arnold is on the bench for his Anfield return. Federico Valverde starts at right-back in Dani Carvajal's absence.

📋✅ Our starting XI!
🆚 @LFC pic.twitter.com/Z8ouN9Il68

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) November 4, 2025

1 hr 25 mins before kickoff: There are some rumours whipping around the Anfield press room about an "interesting" starting selection for the hosts on the left wing. All shall be revealed soon...

1 hr 40 mins before kickoff: They might have won the European Cup 15 times, but can Real Madrid do it on a wet and windy night in northwest England? The weather on Merseyside is authentically filthy. Slide tackle weather too, if the wokerati haven't taken those from us.

Anfield awaits... 🎬✨ pic.twitter.com/NmKSav16sg

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 4, 2025

2 hours before kickoff. Hello and welcome to AllSportsPeople' live coverage of Real Madrid vs. Liverpool from Anfield. Alongside the small matter of a heavyweight Champions League clash, we might also be kicking off the UK's pantomime season a little early tonight. There's probably going to be a lot of booing...

MORE: What's going on with Vinicius and Xabi Alonso?

Liverpool vs. Real Madrid kick off time

The Liverpool vs. Real Madrid match kicks off in Liverpool at 8 p.m. Local time.

Here's how that time translates across some of the major territories:

Liverpool vs. Real Madrid lineups, team news

Slot's team selection against Aston Villa went back to basics insofar as it looked quite a lot like the team and setup that won the Premier League last season.

Andy Robertson  was preferred to Milos Kerkez  at left-back to bring a little extra defensive solidity, while Dominik Szoboszlai  was stationed in front of Alexis Mac Allister  and Ryan Gravenberch  in midfield.

It was surprising to see Slot make only one substitution during Saturday's match, with Florian Wirtz  replacing  Hugo Ekitike  in the 77th minute. Wirtz comes in as the only change and will nominally start on the left flank, with Cody Gakpo  making way.

Liverpool predicted starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Mamardashvili (GK) — Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson — Gravenberch, Mac Allister — Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo — Ekitike

Liverpool subs: Woodman (GK), Kerkez, Gomez, Endo, Misciur, Chiesa, Jones, Gakpo, Ngumoha.

Xabi Alonso's biggest issues remain in defence with centre-backs Antonio Rudiger  and David Alaba still sidelined while club captain Dani Carvajal now faces an extended period out of action due to a knee problem.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has been an unused substitute for the past two La Liga matches and he remains among the replacements on his Anfield return.

Federico Valverde  is starts at right-back once again, leaving a combination of Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga  and Jude Bellingham  to tackle midfield duties.

Real Madrid predicted starting XI (4-2-3-1 right to left): Courtois — Valverde, Huijsen, Militao, Carreras — Tchouameni, Camavinga — Guler, Bellingham, Vinicius — Mbappe

Real Madrid subs: Lunin (GK), Fran Gonzalez (GK), Rodrygo, Endrick, Gonzalo, Alexander-Arnold, Asencio, Ceballos, Fran Garcia, Brahim, Mendy.

Liverpool vs. Real Madrid live stream, TV channel

Here is how to watch the match in some of the world's major regions: