UEFA Champions League Gameweek 4
Liverpool 1 - 0 FT Real Madrid
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Futmetrix Verdict
52
FT
Sat, Sep 19
Brighton
3-0
Arsenal
⚡ Intensity
37
⚖️ Balance
17
🏆 Stakes
70
🎲 Upset
80
Brighton dismantle league leaders Arsenal.
Futmetrix Verdict
55
FT
Sun, Sep 20
Gamba Osaka
0-1
Vissel Kobe
⚡ Intensity
40
⚖️ Balance
20
🏆 Stakes
78
🎲 Upset
0
Erik breaks Gamba hearts at 90'
Futmetrix Verdict
100
FT
Sun, Sep 20
Machida Zelvia
2-4
Kashiwa Reysol
⚡ Intensity
100
⚖️ Balance
78
🏆 Stakes
100
🎲 Upset
12
Kashiwa Reysol conquer Machida in away thriller
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
Vinícius Júnior 23'
Dean Huijsen 45'+1
HT
Jude Bellingham 60'
61' A. Mac Allister (D. Szoboszlai)
↓ E. Camavinga ↑Rodrygo 69'
78' ↓ H. Ekitike ↑C. Gakpo
78' ↓ A. Mac Allister ↑C. Jones
↓ A. Guler ↑T. Alexander-Arnold 81'
88' ↓ F. Wirtz ↑F. Chiesa
88' ↓ A. Robertson ↑M. Kerkez
↓ F. Valverde ↑B. Diaz 90'
Álvaro Carreras 90'+5
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Liverpool
Goalkeepers
Giorgi Mamardashvili 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Conor Bradley
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ibrahima Konaté
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Virgil van Dijk 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Andy Robertson
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Midfielders
Ryan Gravenberch 
SWEEPER
5
Cleanups
5
Cleanups
4
Interceptions
1
Blocks
Alexis Mac Allister 
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
3
Shots
7.7
Rating
Mohamed Salah 
DRIBBLER
5
Dribbles
5
Dribbles
10
Attempts
50%
Success %
Dominik Szoboszlai 
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
1
Assists
30%
Pass Acc
Florian Wirtz
ARCHITECT
5
Key Passes
5
Key Passes
0
Assists
31%
Pass Acc
Forwards
Hugo Ekitike 
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
6
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
BENCH
Freddie Woodman 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Kornel Miściur
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Joe Gomez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Miloš Kerkez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
8
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Wataru Endo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Curtis Jones
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Federico Chiesa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
8
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Cody Gakpo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Rio Ngumoha
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Real Madrid
Goalkeepers
Thibaut Courtois 
OCTOPUS
8
Saves
8
Saves
0
Conceded
100%
Save %
Defenders
Federico Valverde
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Éder Militão
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
7
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Dean Huijsen
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Álvaro Fernández
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
9
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Midfielders
Aurélien Tchouaméni
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Eduardo Camavinga
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
69
Total Mins
69
Entry
Arda Güler
LATE SHIFT
9
Late Mins
9
Late Mins
81
Total Mins
81
Entry
Jude Bellingham
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Vinícius Júnior
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
33%
Pass Acc
Forwards
Kylian Mbappé
PROVOCATEUR
4
Fouls Won
4
Fouls Won
10
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
BENCH
Andriy Lunin
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Fran González
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Trent Alexander-Arnold
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Raúl Asencio
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Fran García
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ferland Mendy
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Dani Ceballos
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Brahim Díaz
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
1
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Endrick
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Rodrygo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Gonzalo García
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11/27/2024 | Liverpool | 2 - 0 | Real Madrid | UEFA Champions League | Anfield |
| 03/15/2023 | Real Madrid | 1 - 0 | Liverpool | UEFA Champions League | Estadio Santiago Bernabéu |
| 02/21/2023 | Liverpool | 2 - 5 | Real Madrid | UEFA Champions League | Anfield |
| 05/28/2022 | Liverpool | 0 - 1 | Real Madrid | UEFA Champions League | Stade de France |
| 04/14/2021 | Liverpool | 0 - 0 | Real Madrid | UEFA Champions League | Anfield |
| 04/06/2021 | Real Madrid | 3 - 1 | Liverpool | UEFA Champions League | Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano |
| 05/26/2018 | Real Madrid | 3 - 1 | Liverpool | UEFA Champions League | NSK Olimpijs'kyj (Kyiv (Kiev)) |
| 11/04/2014 | Real Madrid | 1 - 0 | Liverpool | UEFA Champions League | Estadio Santiago Bernabéu |
| 10/22/2014 | Liverpool | 0 - 3 | Real Madrid | UEFA Champions League | Anfield |
11/27/2024
03/15/2023
02/21/2023
05/28/2022
04/14/2021
04/06/2021
05/26/2018
11/04/2014
10/22/2014
Liverpool Win
Real Madrid Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 4 GD: +11
P: 4 GD: +11
P: 4 GD: +10
P: 4 GD: +7
P: 4 GD: +9
P: 4 GD: +8
P: 4 GD: +6
P: 4 GD: +5
P: 4 GD: +2
P: 4 GD: +5
P: 4 GD: +5
P: 4 GD: +3
P: 4 GD: +3
P: 4 GD: +2
P: 4 GD: +1
P: 4 GD: -2
P: 4 GD: +1
P: 4 GD: +2
P: 4 GD: -2
P: 4 GD: -3
P: 4 GD: -4
P: 4 GD: -2
P: 4 GD: -4
P: 4 GD: -5
P: 4 GD: +1
P: 4 GD: -1
P: 4 GD: -5
P: 4 GD: -8
P: 4 GD: -3
P: 4 GD: -6
P: 4 GD: -7
P: 4 GD: -4
P: 4 GD: -8
P: 4 GD: -9
P: 4 GD: -6
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Liverpool
Real Madrid
Liverpool
Real Madrid
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
Mac Allister's Clinical Strike Seals Liverpool's Anfield Masterclass
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 62/100. In a Champions League collision where possession proved meaningless, Liverpool converted their intensity into a decisive blow, while Real Madrid's dominance on the ball crumbled against relentless pressing.
The Turning Point: VAR's Intervention and Mac Allister's Composure
The match pivoted on a 32nd-minute VAR intervention. Dominik Szoboszlai's penalty was cancelled—a decision that preserved Liverpool's momentum and deflated Madrid's hopes of an early advantage. From that moment, the balance shifted decisively. Sixty-one minutes in, Szoboszlai threaded a pass into the box, and Alexis Mac Allister struck with the precision of a surgeon. One touch. One finish. 1-0. Liverpool's midfield had transformed chaos into opportunity.
Salah's Orchestration vs. Courtois's Last Stand
Mohamed Salah was the architect of Liverpool's dominance, orchestrating play with two key passes that carved open Madrid's defence repeatedly. Yet it was Thibaut Courtois who kept Real Madrid in the contest. The Belgian goalkeeper made eight saves—a masterclass in shot-stopping that prevented a rout. Liverpool fired 17 shots, with 9 finding the target; Madrid managed just 8 attempts. The xG told the story: Liverpool's 2.51 to Madrid's 0.45. This wasn't luck. This was stakes decided by clinical execution.
Possession Without Purpose
Real Madrid controlled 61% possession and strung together 531 passes with 87% accuracy. Yet those numbers became footnotes. Liverpool's 39% possession was weaponised—every pass carried intensity, every movement designed to destabilise. The Reds pressed relentlessly, forcing Madrid into uncomfortable positions. When Madrid did build attacks, they lacked the final edge. Anfield's atmosphere became a 12th man, suffocating Madrid's rhythm and amplifying Liverpool's hunger. By the final whistle, possession had become irrelevant. Liverpool had won the upset factor battle through sheer tactical discipline and ruthless finishing.
Key Questions
How did VAR change this match?
The cancelled penalty in minute 32 shifted psychological momentum entirely. Madrid lost their numerical advantage and Liverpool's confidence soared, leading directly to Mac Allister's decisive goal.
Did the derby intensity affect the quality of play?
No—this wasn't a derby. Liverpool's intensity was tactical brilliance, not emotional chaos. They pressed intelligently, created clear-cut chances, and finished clinically despite Madrid's possession dominance.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Archive note: this preview was written after the match was played.
A Heavyweight Battle for the Top Eight
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 47/100. This fixture serves as a high-stakes benchmark for two clubs vying to bypass the playoff round and secure direct entry into the knockout stages.
The Setup
As the Champions League league stage intensifies, Liverpool and Real Madrid find themselves in a precarious position. Both clubs have collected 12 points from six matches, hovering just outside and inside the critical top-eight bracket. Played at Anfield on November 04, 2025, the Stakes are remarkably high; a win could propel either side into the automatic qualification spots, while a loss leaves them vulnerable to the mid-table scramble. The Form of both teams has been inconsistent, with each side recording four wins and two losses, suggesting that neither has yet mastered the defensive Balance required for continental dominance.
Key Battle
The outcome will likely be decided by the clash between the home side's high-pressing midfield and the visitors' ability to exploit space on the counter-attack. Without specific individuals dominating the headlines, the tactical focus shifts to the collective units. Liverpool's engine room must disrupt the rhythm of the Spanish side's veteran distributors. If the Reds' back line fails to maintain a disciplined high line, the visitors possess the Stars capable of punishing them with clinical efficiency in transition.
Our Prediction
Expect a match defined by momentum swings rather than sustained dominance. Both teams have shown they can score freely but struggle to keep clean sheets against elite opposition. A high-scoring draw appears the most probable result, as both managers may prioritise tactical security late in the game to avoid a damaging defeat in the race for the top eight. We anticipate a 2-2 thriller that leaves the qualification race wide open.