Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid: Player Ratings as Mac Allister’s Header Downs Los Blancos at Anfield! | OneFootball

Anfield under the lights. A European heavyweight clash. Drama, noise, and a flash of Argentine brilliance. Liverpool 1, Real Madrid 0 – and Arne Slot’s men are back.

Alexis Mac Allister’s thumping header in the second half sealed a famous Champions League win that dripped with nostalgia and defiance. After weeks of inconsistency, Liverpool rediscovered their old European swagger – pressing, harrying, and suffocating a Real Madrid side that looked a shadow of their usual regal selves.

Real Madrid, on the other hand, brought their usual air of entitlement – but forgot to pack their magic. Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham? Present in name, absent in impact. Vinícius Jr.? Handled. Courtois? Superhuman. But even the Belgian’s defiance couldn’t stop Mac Allister’s moment.

This wasn’t just a win. It was an exorcism – of ghosts, of self-doubt, and perhaps even that of the 2022 final.

Let’s dive into the ratings.

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Liverpool Player Ratings

Giorgi Mamardashvili – 7/10

Barely tested until the end of the first half, when Madrid finally remembered what attacking was. Made a couple of solid stops, and his handling was clean throughout. Confident, calm, and convincing – a goalkeeper who looks increasingly at home in the chaos of Anfield nights.

Conor Bradley – 8.5/10

The Northern Irishman doesn’t care for reputations. Last year he clattered Mbappé; this year he bullied Vinícius. Tireless, brave, and utterly fearless – he defended like he was protecting his own front door. This was his best performance of the season, and probably his career so far. Klopp would’ve loved him.

Ibrahima Konaté – 8/10

Imperious. Read the game superbly and stepped into duels like a man who enjoys them. Strong, proactive, and refreshingly composed in possession. His aggression set the tone at the back.

Virgil van Dijk – 7.5/10

Not vintage Van Dijk, but close. Organised, vocal, and dealt with Mbappé’s movement with minimal fuss. A couple of fouls aside, it was another captain’s performance that restored order and calm.

Andy Robertson – 6.5/10

Solid defensively, but his touch abandoned him once or twice. Recovered well after a horror first-half moment when Arda Güler almost capitalised on a slip. One of those nights where he did more sweating than shining.

Ryan Gravenberch – 7/10

Stationed deep, almost as a pseudo-six, Gravenberch was disciplined and tidy. Won important second balls and recycled possession smartly. Didn’t drive forward much but did exactly what was asked of him – a metronome with muscle.

Alexis Mac Allister – 9/10

Liverpool’s Argentinian conductor was everywhere. Broke up play, linked the lines, and oh yes – scored the winner. His header was perfectly timed, crashing in off Szoboszlai’s pinpoint cross. The kind of classy performance that makes him indispensable.

Dominik Szoboszlai – 8/10

Energy personified. Pressed like a man possessed, carried the ball beautifully, and delivered the assist of the night with a delicious curling cross for Mac Allister’s goal. Should’ve scored himself in the first half but found Courtois in superhero mode. Liverpool’s heartbeat in midfield.

Mohamed Salah – 6/10

A frustrating night for the Egyptian King. Looked dangerous early but faded after the break as Alvaro Carreras grew into his defensive battle. Still worked hard defensively – yes, defensively – but didn’t quite find his usual sparkle.

Hugo Ekitike – 7.5/10

Ran his socks off. Stretched the Madrid backline constantly and linked play intelligently. Not everything came off, but his pressing and movement gave Madrid’s defenders nightmares. Not prolific, but increasingly important.

Florian Wirtz – 8/10

Drifted, danced, dictated. The German was slippery between the lines, constantly probing and pulling defenders out of shape. One sumptuous first-half pass to Szoboszlai deserved a goal. If this is his adaptation period, his prime will be terrifying.

Substitutes

Curtis Jones – 6.5/10

Came on to help Liverpool keep the ball and did exactly that. No frills, no fireworks, just control. The kind of cameo managers love and fans overlook.

Cody Gakpo – 6.5/10

Didn’t have much of an attacking impact but helped close the game out. His physicality helped disrupt Madrid’s rhythm late on.

Federico Chiesa – 6/10

Barely had time to influence things but injected some fresh legs down the flank.

Milos Kerkez – 6/10

Steady replacement for Robertson. Didn’t have to do much, which is probably a compliment.

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Real Madrid Player Ratings

Thibaut Courtois – 9/10

The man’s arms must be made of springs. Produced five top saves before the interval and three more after. The only reason Madrid didn’t get battered. Could do nothing about Mac Allister’s header – he deserved better from those in front of him.

Federico Valverde – 6.5/10

Used as a makeshift right-back and did reasonably well against Wirtz and Robertson. Defended diligently but lacked his usual midfield dynamism. Not his natural role but never hid.

Éder Militão – 7/10

Strong in duels, sharp in anticipation, and one of the few Madrid players who looked ready for a fight. Didn’t deserve to be on the losing side but can’t cover everyone’s mistakes.

Dean Huijsen – 6.5/10

Handled Ekitike decently but had the occasional “what was that?” moment. One reckless lunge could’ve cost his side dearly. Not a disaster but needs more honing.

Álvaro Carreras – 6.5/10

Had Salah in his pocket for much of the first half but then spent most of the second half chasing shadows. A mixed night for the young left-back – promising but raw.

Aurélien Tchouaméni – 6/10

Physically imposing, tactically confused. Tried to track Wirtz and Szoboszlai at the same time and ended up chasing neither. Booked for one cynical swipe at Wirtz when frustration boiled over.

Eduardo Camavinga – 6.5/10

Worked hard, won some duels, and kept the ball moving. But for all his energy, there was no end product. Needed more incision in his passing.

Jude Bellingham – 6/10

Rarely do you say this about Bellingham: anonymous. Couldn’t impose himself, overhit passes, and drifted out of the game. It felt like he was playing through treacle. A rare off-night for Madrid’s golden boy, apart from drawing a save.

Arda Güler – 5.5/10

One bright moment early when he pounced on Robertson’s error – and that was about it. Never looked comfortable against Liverpool’s physicality. Subdued and eventually substituted.

Kylian Mbappé – 5.5/10

So quiet you’d be forgiven for thinking he’d missed the team bus. Came alive late with one decent effort that whistled wide, but for most of the game, Van Dijk and Konaté kept him in a pocket. Liverpool fans will dine out on that.

Vinícius Jr – 5.5/10

Started with menace, ended with frustration. Showed flashes but found Bradley an immovable object. When Vinícius runs out of ideas, Madrid run out of threats.

Substitutes

Rodrygo – 5/10

Tried to make something happen down the right, but his radar was completely off. Crosses went astray, shots ballooned, and he never really troubled Robertson.

Trent Alexander-Arnold – 4.5/10

Returned to Anfield in white – and was serenaded with boos that echoed like a bad breakup. Barely touched the ball, barely influenced the game, and looked like a man who’d rather be anywhere else.

Brahim Díaz – N/A

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Man of the Match: Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool)

A performance full of class, control, and composure – capped with a match-winning header that could’ve been ripped straight from a Gerrard-era European night. Liverpool’s conductor, destroyer, and hero all in one.

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Conclusion: Reds Rise Again, Madrid Humbled

Liverpool’s European pulse is alive and pounding again. A win over Real Madrid – even a 1-0 one – still means something. It means defiance, progress, and belief. Slot’s Liverpool looked cohesive, brave, and hungry. The press was back, the crowd electric, and the football fluid.

For Madrid, it was a humbling reminder that even the most successful side of Europe can be dethroned when they forget their crown at home. Courtois saved them from embarrassment; everyone else owes him dinner.

Liverpool now sit sixth in the Champions League table, and with renewed confidence ahead of their weekend showdown with Manchester City.

At Anfield, under the glare of those floodlights, one thing became clear again – Liverpool belong on these nights.