Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso addressed the media following his team's narrow 1-0 Champions League defeat to Liverpool on Tuesday night at Anfield, a match that ended Real Madrid's 100 per cent Champions League record for the season. Alonso acknowledged that his side struggled to create clear-cut chances, particularly lacking an attacking threat in the final third against a demanding and high-tempo Liverpool side.

Alonso described the contest as a tight affair, ultimately decided by crucial moments in the second half. He noted, "The second half came down to small details, and we started giving away some fouls." These fouls, along with a conceded corner and a direct free kick, allowed Liverpool to seize the initiative, leading to the decisive goal. Despite the result, Alonso praised his team's attitude and effort, distinguishing this loss from a previous one at the Wanda Metropolitano: "Today, we gave it all, we competed, the attitude was good. We were lacking a few things that we’ll have to improve for the future." He recognized it as the toughest match of their Champions League group stage.

When questioned about his midfield setup with four central players, Alonso explained the initial strategy of having Arda Güler cut inside, stretching Fede Valverde out, but admitted to changing decisions during the game. He conceded that breaking down Liverpool's organised defence proved difficult, stating, "It was difficult for us to get into the final third. They were dropping deep, and in the box, it was hard to create danger."

Former Arsenal forward Thierry Henry was highly critical of Vinicius Junior's performance during the match. Henry expressed his dissatisfaction with Vinicius Jr.'s decision-making, especially in one-on-one situations against Conor Bradley early in the game. "You have to play with what’s in front of you, you have to play the moment," Henry told CBS Sports. He questioned why Vinicius Jr. would pass the ball back to his left-back, turning a one-on-one opportunity into a more difficult one-vs-three situation. Neither Vinicius Jr. nor Kylian Mbappe registered a shot on target, marking the first time this season Real Madrid had failed to score.

Liverpool secured all three points with Alexis Mac Allister’s 61st-minute header, which capped a dominant performance. The diminutive Argentina international finally broke goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois’ almost one-man resistance. This victory marked back-to-back wins and two clean sheets for Liverpool after a run of four league defeats, moving them into sixth place in the table. The Reds managed to dominate a virtually full-strength Real Madrid side despite missing key players like British record signing Alexander Isak, first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker, and £40 million full-back Jeremie Frimpong. A VAR review during the first half also ruled that a handball by Aurélien Tchouaméni, initially believed to be inside the penalty area, was not, in fact, a handball at all, adding to the match's tense moments.