Liverpool failed to stage one of their famous Champions League comebacks as a late strike from Karim Benzema condemned them to a 6-2 aggregate defeat against Real Madrid.
Real already had one foot in the quarter-finals after their resounding 5-2 win at Anfield last month, and despite huffing and puffing for the majority of Wednesday’s second leg the Reds were floored to the point of no return when Benzema tucked home the only goal of the game 12 minutes from time.
The Frenchman’s strike capped a commanding aggregate victory for Los Blancos, who kept the defence of their European crown going in style.
Here, Sportsmail’s DOMINIC KING takes a look at some things you may have missed from Wednesday’s game.
Karim Benzema capped a sensational 6-2 aggregate victory for Real Madrid against Liverpool
Klopp must use this pain to fuel revival
When will they meet again? Liverpool will be desperate to face Real Madrid again soon, to see if they can finally lay a glove on them, but after four collision in five years, there is no guarantee these sides will be in the same European competition next season.
Madrid’s place is practically guaranteed every year but Liverpool’s position amongst the elite is increasingly flimsy. Should they play with the control that they did for 75 minutes here, perhaps they will overhaul the teams in front of them and clinch fourth place.
Should Jurgen Klopp oversee an end of campaign revival, it would rank as one of his most significant achievements at Anfield. The problem is nobody knows what to expect. Klopp must hope the pain suffered against Madrid fuels their determination.
Jurgen Klopp must use the pain of this defeat to fuel a revival and ensure the two sides are in the same European competition next season
Courtois a Real bargain for Madrid
The summer of 2018 was memorable for the world record transfer fee for a goalkeeper being broken twice: Liverpool’s £64.6m signing of Alisson Becker and Chelsea’s £71m move for Kepa Arrizabalaga. It was the same window that Real Madrid bought themselves a new Number One, too.
Thibaut Courtois cost £31m five years ago: what a bargain he has been. As in the final last May when he was Man of the Match, the Belgian was absolutely faultless again here. Alisson, for the record, was similarly excellent.
Camavinga proves he’s untouchable
One word is all it takes from a manager such as Carlo Ancelotti to let you know the special ones.
In pre-match press conference, Ancelotti described Eduardo Camavinga as being ‘untouchable’ and it wasn’t a description thrown away like confetti. To be ‘untouchable’ at Real Madrid means a player’s talent is out of the ordinary and watching the France international in his warm-up was revealing.
He hit four shots past Courtois that were hit as cleanly as a flush drive through the covers, technique was absolutely impeccable. Practice almost made perfect when he fizzed a 20th minute drive that cracked against the woodwork.
Thibaut Courtois produced another superb Champions League display against Liverpool
Eduardo Camavinga backed up Carlo Ancelotti’s claim that he is ‘untouchable’ for Madrid
Nunez a diamond in the rough
An idea of how Liverpool are still a work in progress came in the 27th minute when Jurgen Klopp went ballistic at Darwin Nunez for not getting back into position quick enough to make the team’s shape solid.
The Uruguayan has talent to burn but he’s a diamond that is going to take some significant polishing. He had Liverpool’s best shot in the first half but was eventually substituted.
Is this a library?
The Santiago Bernabeu continues to resemble a building site on the outside but inside it resembled a library for a lot of the contest. Maybe a three-goal first leg advantage left the locals comfortable but the atmosphere was surreal, with long parts played in relative silence.
There were times, really, when it felt like a testimonial. Liverpool fans were so high up in the Gods they needed binoculars to see properly.
The Santiago Bernabeu resembled a library for a lot of Wednesday night’s second leg
Source: dailymail.co.uk
