Liverpool’s Nemesis Returns to Anfield

Real Madrid travels to Liverpool for Matchday 4 of the 2025-26 Champions League League Phase, bringing with it a player who sends shivers down the spines of Reds fans: Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian has become Liverpool’s ultimate tormentor, his favorite victim in Europe. In five meetings, he boasts four wins, one draw, and five goals, including the strike that sealed Madrid’s Champions League title in 2022. No other European team has suffered more against Madrid’s No. 7.

Vinicius’ story against Liverpool began in the 2020-21 season, when the pandemic forced Madrid to play their Champions League quarterfinals at the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium. Back then, he wasn’t the ruthless finisher he is today — and his wastefulness in front of goal was a regular target for critics. But everything changed that night: Vini struck twice in a brilliant 3-1 victory, silencing doubters and setting up Madrid’s qualification. The second leg at Anfield ended 0-0, with Zidane’s side advancing comfortably.

The 2022 Final: A Goal for the Ages

The next chapter in this rivalry came in the 2022 final in Saint-Denis. After losing in Kiev four years earlier, Mohamed Salah and company were desperate for revenge — not just on the pitch, but emotionally. They launched wave after wave of attacks, but ran into an immovable object: Thibaut Courtois, who delivered one of the greatest goalkeeping performances ever seen in a European final.

And when the moment came, Vinicius Junior delivered. A low cross from Valverde, a quick instinctive run, and a calm finish — 1-0, and the Champions League belonged to Real Madrid once again. Ironically, Vini was kept onside by just a few centimeters… from Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is now his teammate in Madrid.

The Anfield Masterclass

A year later, in the round of 16, came perhaps Vinicius’ finest display. Madrid was 2-0 down after just 14 minutes, with Anfield roaring and the atmosphere electric. But the Brazilian flipped the script: two goals of his own — one of pure quality and another with a touch of luck — silenced the stadium and leveled the score before halftime.

From there, Madrid ran riot. Second-half goals from Militao and Benzema, along with an assist from Vinicius, sealed a legendary 5-2 comeback on English soil. In the return leg at the Bernabéu, he added another assist in the 1-0 victory. His personal tally against Liverpool now stood at five goals and two assists in five games — numbers that underline total dominance.

An Untouchable Record

The last time Liverpool met Real Madrid was last season, again in the league phase. But without Vinicius, sidelined due to injury, the Spanish giants fell 2-0 at Anfield. His absence was not only decisive — it also helped preserve his perfect record against the Reds.

Five matches, five goals, two assists, and zero defeats: that’s Vinicius Junior’s flawless record against Liverpool. Every time he steps onto the Anfield pitch, the Brazilian doesn’t just play — he haunts them.