Real Madrid vs Liverpool LIVE: Result and reaction as Reds crash out of Champions League
Real Madrid 1-0 Liverpool (6-2 agg): Jurgen Klopp’s men failed to overcome a three-goal deficit from the first leg
Liverpool’s impossible job against Real Madrid in the Bernabeu proved exactly that as there was no dramatic comeback and a 1-0 defeat saw them exit the Champions League without much of a fight.
All the damage had been done in the first leg but even with a 5-2 deficit there remained the romantic notion among the die-hards and dreamers that Jurgen Klopp’s side could fashion a performance to rival that of Istanbul 2005 or Anfield 2019 against Barcelona.
Klopp gave his side a one per cent chance ahead of the game but had it not been for the brilliance of goalkeeper Alisson Becker all hope would have been extinguished in the opening quarter.
This was the 14-time winners’ 300th Champions League match and all that experience showed with a balanced and controlled display of sharp attacking and tidy defending capped by a goal from their long-time nemesis Karim Benzema. However, it may be Liverpool’s last in the competition for a while unless they can iron out wild inconsistencies in their domestic form.
Relive the action as Liverpool exit the Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid:
Real Madrid 0-0 Liverpool (5-2 agg)
9 mins: Almost! Liverpool give the ball away to Eduardo Camavinga who sends it up to Karim Benzema. He knocks it over to Vinicius who slips Toni Kroos into the box.
Kroos pulls it back otwards the wide open Benzema but the pass is just behind the Frenchman and the ball rolls by. James Milner then gets back and hooks it away.
Real Madrid 0-0 Liverpool (5-2 agg)
7 mins: Chance! Mo Salah capitalises on a slip from Antonio Rudiger and takes over possession high up the pitch. He slides the ball into the penalty area where Darwin Nunez shifts it to the right then drills a low effort straight at Thibaut Courtois who keeps it out.
Real Madrid 0-0 Liverpool (5-2 agg)
6 mins: Luka Modric receives the ball on the edge of the Liverpool box and works it over to the forwar moving Nacho. He slips a pass into the feet of Vinicius who weaves into the area before getting dispossessed by Konate.
The first corner of the game comes to Madrid. Trent Alexander-Arnold wins the initial ball near the back post but only nods it as far as Karim Benzema.
He shoots but sees his effort blocked.
Real Madrid 0-0 Liverpool (5-2 agg)
3 mins: Vinicius Junior is probably Liverpool’s biggest threat tonight. Trent Alexander-Arnold will push high up the pitch in order to create chances for the Reds but that will leave a lot of space on the wing for Vinicius.
Fabinho is going to have to cover that area and Ibrahima Konate needs to be switched on too.
Kick off: Real Madrid 0-0 Liverpool (5-2 agg)
Liverpool get the match started and work the ball over to the left wing. Cody Gakpo wins the ball and carries to the edge of the box before slipping a short pass over to Diogo Jota who can’t get it under control.
Real Madrid clear their lines.
Real Madrid vs Liverpool
Here come the teams.
James Milner has the armband for Liverpool tonight. The Reds need to start strongly and they need to start quickly. An early goal will ignite the belief that they can achieve a remarkable comeback.
Real Madrid probably just need to score. That will settle the nerves and give them an even firmer grip on a spot in the quarter-finals.
Kick off is up next.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp speaking to BT Sport:
“We have a saying in German - if you have a problem, find an offensive solution. We have midfield players on the bench but they haven’t play for a long time now. Cody Gakpo has rhythm and Diogo Jota is a player who can make a difference.
“It would be helpful [to score the first goal] because each goal Real Madrid scores make the hill even higher.
“The biggest thing we have to do is to defend, you cannot just attack and hope they don’t score. We need a super performance. If we can do that it is good, if not Madrid go through.
“James Milner brings a lot of things, mentality obviously, but we needed a defensive oriented midfield with all our attacking options.”
‘We hav nothing to lose'
“I think it is important to have this mindset for a game like this because we have nothing to lose,” said Liverpool midfielder Fabinho.
“I think everyone expects Real Madrid to win the game and to go to the quarter-finals and this can be good for us. We go with the responsibility to wear the Liverpool shirt and to try to play our best football.”
Ancelotti praises Vinicius and Camavinga
Carlo Ancelotti was full of praise for midfielder Eduardo Camavinga and Brazilian winger Vinicius Jr saying:
“[Camavinga is] hugely important for us, he’s doing a great job, some brilliant performances. He makes mistakes but the way he’s been playing really makes up for any errors.
“[Vinicius is] on the right track to make history at Real Madrid in the coming years, just like Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Karim Benzema and Casemiro already have.
“This whole group has been unbelievable, especially in the Champions League.”
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