Real Madrid's Two Faces at Anfield: Courtois the Wall, Mbappe Vanished

Real Madrid suffered their second defeat of the season after falling 0–1 to Liverpool in their Champions League match at Anfield, early Wednesday morning WIB, November 5, 2025. Arriving as one of the five teams with a perfect record in the group stage, Los Blancos brought a strong determination to extend their fine run. 

However, facing the reigning English champions, Xabi Alonso's troops returned home disappointed. Alexis Mac Allister's 61st-minute header proved decisive and ended Real Madrid's streak of six consecutive wins.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was expected to experience an emotional night at Anfield, could only watch from the substitutes' bench as his former club celebrated a hugely emotional victory.

Behind the defeat, two Madrid stars showed contrasting performances. Thibaut Courtois stood like a living wall, while Kylian Mbappé seemed to lose his magic in the forward line.

Courtois: The Keeper Who Saved Madrid's Pride

Despite his team's loss, Thibaut Courtois delivered a brilliant performance in this high-tension match. Without Courtois, Real Madrid might have suffered even greater humiliation at Anfield.

Putting in an outstanding performance throughout the game, Courtois made a series of incredible saves that prevented a Madrid collapse. The former Chelsea keeper made a total of eight saves.  

This performance further cemented Courtois's status as the most consistent player in Xabi Alonso's squad this season, even when his defence looked fragile.

His solidity and quick reflexes repeatedly thwarted golden opportunities for Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez, making him the sole reason the scoreline didn't become a disaster for Madrid.

Mbappe: The Goal Machine That Stalled at Anfield

On the other hand, Kylian Mbappe, expected to be the difference-maker up front, performed below par.

In this match, Kylian Mbappe was expected to show his magic as Real Madrid's primary goal machine this season. Instead, his display was disappointing.

Throughout the game, Mbappe posed minimal threat to the Liverpool goal. He struggled to penetrate The Reds' defence, which was solid throughout the match.

His speed and goalscoring instinct seemed blunted against the hosts' intense pressing and tactical defensive work.

With Mbappe offering little effective movement, Real Madrid lost their bite in attack. His combination play with Vinícius Junior didn't click, and the supply line from midfield was also disrupted.

Aside from Courtois, several other Madrid players showed hard work. Federico Valverde displayed a high work ethic as the right wing-back. Jude Bellingham remained full of determination even though he failed to create a goal or an assist.

Conversely, Dean Huijsen was a weak point in defence, with several careless decisions adding extra pressure on Courtois.

The defeat at Anfield highlighted the stark contrast between Courtois, the saviour, and Mbappé, who lost his influence.