Kylian Mbappé showed up at Anfield on fire, but by the end of the night, he probably just wanted to disappear. He’s been tearing teams apart all season, but Liverpool managed to shut him down completely as they grabbed a 1–0 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Alexis Mac Allister’s header in the 61st minute settled it, but honestly, the bigger shock was Liverpool’s defense. People have been calling them shaky all year, yet they somehow kept both Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior quiet.
A Rare Off Night for Mbappé
Coming into the game, Mbappé had scored 21 goals in 17 matches across competitions and was widely seen as a front-runner for the Ballon d’Or. But at Anfield, the Real Madrid forward looked a shadow of his usual self. He managed only three shots all night, and none were on target.
His best chance came midway through the second half, moments after Liverpool had taken the lead. Found inside the box, Mbappé tried to curl the ball into the top corner but it drifted harmlessly wide. It summed up his evening: close, but never quite threatening.
Alonso: “We Lacked Threat in the Final Third”
Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso, who has enjoyed an impressive start to life in charge, admitted his team struggled to create clear chances.
“We were lacking that threat in the final third,” Alonso said after the match. “We competed well, but we didn’t hurt them where it mattered most.”
It was the first time Real Madrid have failed to score all season, and only their second loss in all competitions.
Slot’s Tactical Masterclass
Liverpool boss Arne Slot said his team had focused heavily on stopping Madrid’s attacking duo.
“Before the game, I reminded the players that Madrid had scored 26 goals in La Liga and Mbappé and Vinícius had contributed to 24 of them,” Slot revealed. “You can’t completely control them, but you can make things difficult. And I think we did that really well.”
Liverpool’s defense often fragile in recent months as compact and disciplined, with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté closing down every angle Mbappé tried to exploit.
Déjà Vu for Mbappé at Anfield
This isn’t the first time Mbappé has struggled on Merseyside. Last year, he also endured a disappointing night at the same stadium, missing a penalty in Madrid’s 2–0 defeat to Liverpool during the group stages.
While this time he didn’t miss from the spot, the outcome was the same Liverpool winning and Mbappé leaving frustrated.
Anfield’s Influence
The Anfield crowd played its part too. The atmosphere was intense from the first whistle, and it only grew louder when former Liverpool player Trent Alexander-Arnold came on to a mix of cheers and boos late in the match.
“I was impressed by the atmosphere throughout the whole 90 minutes,” Slot said. “It felt like every tackle and every save lifted the crowd.”
What It Means
The win gives Liverpool a strong position in their Champions League group and boosts confidence for the rest of their campaign. For Real Madrid, it’s a reminder that even a side boasting the world’s best player can stumble on a cold night at Anfield.
As for Mbappé, he’ll be eager to put this one behind him quickly. For all his brilliance, Anfield continues to be one of the few places in Europe where Kylian Mbappé just can’t seem to shine.