Liverpool vs Real Madrid LIVE score: Champions League result as Real come from two goals down to win
Liverpool 2-5 Real Madrid: A 2-0 Liverpool lead soon turned into a heavy defeat on a nightmare night at Anfield
Real Madrid produced a stunning comeback from two goals down to earn a devastating 5-2 victory at Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
In a re-run of last year’s final, the first half was played at a ferocious pace, with the hosts racing into a fourth-minute lead through a superb Darwin Nunez flick, the quickest goal Liverpool have ever scored at Anfield in the Champions League. Anfield erupted 10 minutes later when a horrendous miscontrol from Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois left Mohamed Salah with the simple task of slotting the ball home to make it 2-0.
Yet just as they did on several occasions en route to their 14th European Cup crown last season, Real quickly turned things around, with Vinicius Jr. scoring one sublime strike and one fluke goal after another goalkeeping mistake to level the match by half-time. A bullet Eder Militao header completed the turnaround for Real early in the second half, sapping all the life out of Anfield in the process.
The hosts’ misery was not done there, however, as Karim Benzema’s double ensured Liverpool shipped five goals at home for only the third time this century in all competitions, leaving them with a monumental task to reach the quarter-finals.
Relive all the action from a crazy night at Anfield:
GOAL! Liverpool 2- 5 Real Madrid (Benzema, 67’)⚽️
67 mins: Incredible! Liverpool are caught in the centre of the pitch with Luka Modric shrugging off the young Stefan Bajcetic. He plays the ball off to Vinicius Jr who carries to the edge of the box before slipping it inside to Karim Benzema.
Benzema sits down Alisson and slots his left-footed finish into the back of the net!
Liverpool 2- 4 Real Madrid
64 mins: Antonio Rudiger comes flying onto a long-range shot when Liverpool attempt to clear their lines. The former Chelsea defender strikes it well but pulls the effort slightly to the left of goal.
Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino are now introduced for Liverpool with Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez taken off.
Liverpool 2- 4 Real Madrid
61 mins: VAR takes a look at a potential penalty for Liverpool. Cody Gakpo whips a cross in from the left and hits Carvajal on the arm.
The video referee takes a long look at the incident but decides that it was a deliberate handball from the defender so Liverpool don’t win the penalty.
Liverpool 2- 4 Real Madrid
58 mins: Real Madrid came back from two goals down in the first half and now the onus is on Liverpool to do the same in the second. The Reds certainly need to score the next goal if they want to get back into the game.
GOAL! Liverpool 2- 4 Real Madrid (Benzema, 55’)⚽️
55 mins: Dani Carvajal knocks the ball down the right wing for Rodrygo. He brings it into the box and links up with Karim Benzema who curls a left footed shot at goal.
Alisson seems to have it covered but ball hits Joe Gomez and deflects into the back of the net after wrongfooting the goalkeeper. Madrid now lead by two.
Liverpool 2- 3 Real Madrid
53 mins: Close! Stefan Bajcetic switches the play with a cross field pass over to Mo Salah. He dinks it forward to Trent Alexander-Arnold who whips an early cross over to the far side of the penalty area.
Darwin Nunez looks to be arriving for the header but gets a push in the back from Dani Carvajal. Nunez goes down as the ball bounces over his head hoping for a penalty.
The referee plays on and VAR doesn’t even check the incident.
Liverpool 2- 3 Real Madrid
50 mins: Now Liverpool have things to think about. Do they settle for a one goal deficit and try to win the tie at the Bernabeu or run the risk of going further behind in an attempt to win the game here?
It’s got to be the second option surely. Real Madrid’s defence has been ropey tonight, then again so has Liverpool’s.
GOAL! Liverpool 2- 3 Real Madrid (Militao, 47’)⚽️
47 mins: Joe Gomez is penalised for a foul on Vinicius just outside the Liverpool penalty area. Luka Modric stands over the free kick then fires a pacey cross into the middle of the box.
Eder Militao makes a run inside from the far post and whacks a bullet header past Alisson to send the visitors in front!
Second half: Liverpool 2- 2 Real Madrid
No changes from either manager at the half-time break. Liverpool get the ball rolling once more. If the next 45 minutes are as exciting as the first 45 then we’ll be in for a barnstorming second half.
Can Liverpool get themselves in front again?
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