Liverpool 2 – 5 R Madrid

Liverpool were sensationally beaten 5-2 by Real Madrid despite going two goals down early in the Champions League round of 16 at Anfield.

Vinicius Junior scored twice before the interval to overturn Liverpool’s early advantage and three unanswered second-half goals – two scored by Karim Benzema – condemned Jurgen Klopp’s side to their heaviest defeat in Champions League history.

The Reds threatened to beat the world champions, who won the Champions League final in May, during an impressive opening period. Darwin Nunez’s flick put them in front within four minutes before Mohamed Salah latched on to Thibaut Courtois’ mistake.

With Real Madrid shaking, he even showed his characteristic quality and composure, Vinicius rifling the ball down to the far corner of Alisson’s net to pull one back, before the goalkeeper replicated the error by Courtois by gifting the Brazilian twice in the night.

Eder Militao’s header from a Luka Modric free-kick put Carlo Ancelotti’s side ahead early in the second half before Benzema’s shot deflected off Joe Gomez and beyond Alisson to silence Anfield. When Benzema then added a fine second, Liverpool were devastated.

The result left Klopp and his players in need of a miracle at the Bernabeu next month. The more immediate concern is that after a couple of confidence-boosting Premier League victories, the fragility that marred Liverpool’s season has resurfaced.

Carragher: ‘Shambolic’ and ‘disgraceful’

Talk to CBS, Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher was furious about Liverpool’s second-half capitulation. “This is shambolic from Liverpool,” he said.

“It’s a shame. We’ve made excuses for them all season, but this is a disgrace in the second half. To lose half that 3-0 when you attack the Kop at 2-2 and in a losing game. Shambolic.”

Klopp took positives from the horror defeat

“Everything is clear,” Klopp said. “We gave all five goals. That means we can do better there. In our situation, it is very important that we see positive steps and the first half, apart from the two goals we conceded, is the best we have done all season. .

“The second goal was slapstick, equalizing our second goal. The first goal we had to defend better, there were enough players. It was just a world-class moment from Vinicius, but obviously, we could have defended better.

“Half-time was a bit positive, we had to play in this and that place, then we started with the third goal, which was a terrible goal and changed a lot of the game. We lost the momentum at that time and never got it back.

“In the second half, the match was the one that Real Madrid wanted. Another goal, one seen and not well defended. We lost the ball at the wrong time which was a problem for Real Madrid on the counter. -The attacking threat they have.”

Asked if the heavy defeat could dent his players’ confidence, Klopp was adamant he wouldn’t let that happen. “This is absolutely not allowed,” he said.

“I told the boys, one result, the opposite of what you want, but a defeat is just a defeat if you don’t learn from it, if you don’t learn that the beginning is important and we are in short, so if we allow this one game to affect us really stupid.

“Yes, we have to improve. The third goal, massive. The first goal, massive. But the intensity, the effort shown, the football, everything we want to see, so we have to make sure we stay; 5-2 can be devastating but I have to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Ancelotti: ‘We keep our cool’

“What happened was that we suffered early, they made it difficult for us at the beginning of the game,” explained Ancelotti. “You can’t start a game like that. Fortunately, what happens often happens to our team.

“We are very efficient in front of the goal when we can get out of pressure. We improved our defensive game because in the first half we were under pressure from Liverpool. The players in front are very dangerous. Our players are very. accurate.

“We had the advantage of the match in the first 90 minutes. Now we have to control the second half of the match in Madrid. Liverpool created a lot of problems at the beginning and we should expect the same in the second leg. Unfortunately, I cannot say that the tie is decided. “

Man of the match – Vinicius Junior

Liverpool were enjoying themselves until Vinicius intervened, the first goal going into the corner of the net and sowing the seeds of doubt that their team continued to be exploited. In the end, he abused Trent Alexander-Arnold. It was a stunning performance.

“Vinicius, today, in my personal opinion, is the most important player in world football,” Ancelotti said. “The player who can make the biggest difference. If he maintains this consistency, how he causes problems, runs at people, let’s hope he continues in this vein.”

Liverpool’s heavy defeat in statistics

• Liverpool conceded five goals in a European game at Anfield for the first time while it was only the third time this century that they have conceded five or more goals in a home game in all competitions.
• Real Madrid are the first team in Champions League history to come from two goals down and win by a three-goal margin.
• This is only the fourth time Jurgen Klopp’s side have scored five or more goals in a home game in all competitions, after Mainz in 2006 (1-6 v Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga), Borussia Dortmund in 2009 (1-5 v Bayern Munich. in the Bundesliga) and Liverpool in 2019 (5-5 v Arsenal).
• At 22 years and 224 days, Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior is the youngest away player to score twice against Liverpool at Anfield in a major European competition since Johan Cruyff in December 1966 for Ajax in the European Cup (19y 233d).
• Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema has scored six goals against Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League, more than any other player.

What’s next?

Liverpool return to Premier League action on Saturday with a trip to Crystal Palacelife goes on Sky Sports; kick-off 7.45pm. Jurgen Klopp’s team then host wolf on Wednesday March 1; kick-off 8pm.

Real Madrid The important matches continue on Saturday, with a LaLiga game at home to the neighbours Atletico Madrid; kick-off 5.30pm. The European champions then host a bitter rivalry Barcelona Saturday, March 2 in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey; kick-off at 8pm.