Usually, Real Madrid get the better of Liverpool in the Champions League, including in two Finals in the 2017/18 and 2021/22 seasons. So it was a shock for Madridistas when the Reds ripped them to shreds 2-0 in the league phase of the 2024/25 Champions League, and that should have been the first sign to Real Madrid that they were falling behind this season.
Although Liverpool were knocked out of the Champions League a round earlier than Real Madrid, they at least took PSG to their limit. Real Madrid were humiliated in both legs by Arsenal, a club sitting more than double-digit points behind Liverpool, who already sealed the Premier League title this weekend. Real Madrid, meanwhile, are four points back of Barcelona in LaLiga and just lost their third Clasico of the season to the Blaugrana.
There's no doubt that Real Madrid have a lot of work to do this summer to rebuild their squad, especially with a new manager set to replace Carlo Ancelotti. And it looks like Real Madrid are trying to spoil Liverpool's summer in a big way.
Real Madrid want to steal Alexis Mac Allister
Already, Real Madrid are expected to introduce Liverpool superstar right back Trent Alexander-Arnold as a free agent signing this summer, but he isn't the only star they could take away from the Reds. According to MARCA's Jose Felix Diax, Real Madrid are in love with box-to-box center midfielder Alexis Mac Allister. Not only that, but they are also eyeing Bournemouth left back Milos Kerkez, who is literally the top target the Reds have in mind to replace declining star Andrew Robertson.
So Real Madrid could spoil Liverpool's plans at both fullback positions, which was one of the Reds' calling cards to becoming one of the best teams in Europe and serious challengers to Los Blancos year in and year out. And not only that, but Real Madrid dream of taking a World Cup hero and a big threat to them in the midfield in the Champions League away.
The chances of Real Madrid signing any player from Liverpool, though, is highly unlikely. Liverpool value Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch, another possible future Madrid target in midfield, incredibly highly. Neither are for sale, and, if they were, Real Madrid would have to spend a king's ransom to sign them - the sort of money president Florentino Perez isn't spending.
But there are always exceptions when a team pushes enough, and as Alexander-Arnold's situation shows, all it takes is a little bit of patience for Real Madrid to eventually land the targets they dream of.