Liverpool produced their most controlled European display of the season to beat Real Madrid 1–0 and hand Xabi Alonso his first Champions League defeat of the campaign. Alexis Mac Allister decided it on 61 minutes with a thumping header from Dominik Szoboszlai’s free kick, finally beating Thibaut Courtois, who made eight saves and was the visitors’ outstanding player.

Liverpool had threatened throughout, pressing high and compressing the central lanes that usually power Madrid’s transitions. The hosts’ first-half dominance featured a string of Courtois interventions and a VAR flip that overturned a Liverpool penalty after a monitor review. Florian Wirtz and Szoboszlai both forced commanding saves; Conor Bradley was excellent up the right.

Alonso’s side carried little punch before the interval. Kylian Mbappé was restricted to one shot in the opening hour, while Federico Valverde, again at right-back, was Madrid’s most reliable defender, punctuating Liverpool’s best moves with timely interventions.

The winner arrived from a familiar Anfield route. Jude Bellingham slid through Ryan Gravenberch to concede a free kick and was booked. Szoboszlai’s delivery was measured and Mac Allister’s header was emphatic, angled close to Courtois’ head and too powerful to repel. Replays suggested Bellingham also played the scorer onside.

Madrid’s best spell came late. Mbappé curled wide outside of the far post on 74 minutes and, in the final moments, Szoboszlai tracked back to shut down the Frenchman in the area. Trent Alexander-Arnold made his first Anfield appearance since leaving Liverpool, coming on in the 81st minute to loud boos, but his introduction did not change the pattern: Liverpool compressing space, Real Madrid short of clarity.

Alonso’s bench added running rather than incision; Liverpool’s carried the game over the line. Cody Gakpo drew another reflex save from Courtois, Andy Robertson and Wirtz went off to ovations, and the home side saw out five minutes of stoppage time with relative control. When the whistle came, the ovation matched the result: a performance of discipline and intensity that ended Madrid’s winning start in the league phase and steadied Liverpool after a patchy domestic run.

Madrid leave with concerns beyond the scoreline. Dean Huijsen was stretched at center-back; Vinícius Júnior and Bellingham were contained for long stretches; Mbappé’s best moment arrived too late.

Liverpool’s pillars were clear. The collective against Mbappé worked, Szoboszlai influenced both halves of the pitch, Bradley excelled, and Mac Allister delivered the decisive touch. At the other end, Courtois’ excellence kept the margin to one.