In a stunning UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg clash, Liverpool and Real Madrid produced a thrilling encounter at Anfield with a total of seven goals scored. Liverpool started the game brightly, with Nunez flicking a stunning finish past Courtois from a low cross by Salah in the fourth minute to give the home side an early lead.
Courtois had a nightmare moment as he let the ball bobble off him in the 14th minute, which fell kindly to Salah, who made no mistake in doubling Liverpool’s lead. Real Madrid, however, showed their quality and pulled one back in the 21st minute when Vinicius shifted the ball onto his right foot and fired a shot into the far corner of the net.
Los Blancos levelled the score in the 36th minute when Alisson made a mistake, firing the ball straight into Vinicius, who looped the ball into an empty net. The second half began with Real Madrid putting Liverpool under pressure, and they took the lead in the 47th minute when Militao powered a header past a motionless Alisson from Modric’s free-kick.
Madrid continued to dominate, and a deflected shot from Benzema found its way into the back of the net in the 55th minute. Liverpool’s defence was completely exposed, and they were unable to cope with the pace and movement of Real Madrid’s front three.
The game was put beyond doubt in the 67th minute when Vinicius played the ball through to Benzema, who rounded Alisson before calmly slotting the ball into an empty net. The final scoreline read Liverpool 2-5 Real Madrid, with the visitors putting in an outstanding performance to secure a commanding advantage in the first leg of the tie.
Liverpool will have to produce something special in the second leg if they are to have any chance of progressing to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, while Real Madrid will be confident of booking their place in the next round after a dominant display at Anfield.
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Liverpool Battered At Home
Goal! Liverpool 2-5 Real Madrid
Liverpool absolutely ripped to shreds. Caught in the middle of the pitch, Bajcetic should foul Modric but doesn’t… Real are away. Through to Vinicius, squared to Benzema who takes it round Alisson and then beats the two defenders on the line. So, so calm.
Goal! Liverpool 2-4 Real Madrid
This crazy night at Anfield continues. Lovely play between Rodrygo and Benzema, the Frenchman goes for goal from just inside the box. Takes a big deflection off Gomez and Alisson can do nothing about it!
Goal! Liverpool 2-3 Real Madrid
Real free-kick in a really dangerous position. Vinicius skips past Alexander-Arnold and Gomez then comes across and clatters the winger. Just outside the area, wide on the left wing. Modric standing over it.
AND REAL MADRID ARE IN FRONT! Modric fires the cross in, Militao powers a header past a motionless Alisson.
Second half
The second half is underway! The first half produced a 4-goal thriller, what should we expect in the second half?
Half-time
Well that was fun. Goals, mistakes, chances, saves. Everything we could have wished for from this match and more. Fingers crossed the managers do not tighten things up!
Goal! Liverpool 2-2 Real Madrid
The drama at Anfield is unbelievable! Bajcetic loses it in midfield, Valverde looks to slide an early ball through to Vinicius.
Gomez gets there first, lays it back to Alisson who looks to play it back to Gomez but instead fires the ball straight into Vinicius and it loops into the empty net!
Goal! Liverpool 2-1 Real Madrid
Sensational. Benzema plays the ball to Vinicius, he’s got no right to do anything with so many shirts around him. Shifts the ball onto this right foot though and hammers a finish into the far corner.
Goal! Liverpool 2-0 Real Madrid
Absolute horror show from Courtois. Ball played back to him, he lets it bobble off him and it’s straight to Salah, who has the simplest of finishes.
Goal! Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid
Liverpool attack down the right, Salah cuts inside and plays a low cross into the box, where Nunez flicks a stunning finish past Courtois! Incredible.
Kick Off!
And so it begins!
Staring XI
It’s pretty much as we expected from Liverpool, with the only doubt going into the match whether Nunez was fit and would start. He is and he does, meaning Jota and Firmino once again have to settle for places on the bench. Van Dijk partners Gomez at the back, while it’s that midfield three again of Fabinho, Henderson and Bajcetic.
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