Real Madrid went into northern England and took the game to Liverpool as the hosts were swept aside by three goals thanks to Karim Benzema’s brace and a beautiful strike from Cristiano Rolando to open the scoring. The atmosphere at Anfield was superb as ever, but it wasn’t enough as they were outclassed in every aspect of the match.
Liverpool have started brightly in this Champions League fixture against the defending champions, Real Madrid. They’re playing compact defensively, trying to contain Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, while Raheem Sterling and Mario Balotelli are causing a bit of a nuisance for Madrid’s back four. Gerrard took a wicked shot from outside of the box which dipped on its way in, but Casillas saved it excellently, in the 11th minute of play.
Ronaldo scored his first Anfield goal in the 22nd minute against the run of play as he hit it on the half-volley with Skretl giving him absolutely no space as Madrid took an early 0-1 lead. James Rodriguez supplied a beautiful pass to the eventual goal scorer to get the assist. Cristiano went close again a few minutes later as he shifted to the top of the box, but his effort went to the right of the target, narrowly missing. Karim Benzema got the second of the evening after Liverpool failed to clear their lines and Toni Kroos found the head of the French striker.
The Liverpool goalkeeper, Simon Mignolet, came off his line and never claimed the ball off of the corner and it ping-ponged around the box to Benzema. The only thing the Madrid forward had to do was poke it home and he did just that, giving the visitors a 0-3 lead 5 minutes before the interval, exhibition stuff really. Joe Allen nearly pulled one back for Liverpool after Balotelli found the midfielder in the middle of the box but missed just inches to the left of the goal, which would have given them a bit of momentum heading into the second half of play. In stoppage time in the first half, the Brazilian-born Coutinho slammed his shot off of the crossbar.
Liverpool has started the second half much more brightly than Madrid, but that’s how the first 45 started as well. Rodgers substituted Balotelli for Lallana, which was quite interesting at the time, but as the half progressed, they looked more and more fluid going forward creating a few decent looks at goal, but nothing to trouble Casillas. Mignolet saved Ronaldo’s shot after a lovely build-up from Madrid, but maybe, just maybe, took it for granted and the Belgian goalkeeper was able to keep the shot out, shortly past the hour mark.
With 20 minutes left to go in this match, Raheem Sterling hit a right footed shot from the top of the box, but it was an easy stop for Iker Casillas who, in truth, has had little to do tonight. James Rodriguez had Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema on either side of him, decided to play the ball to the left side to Benzema and was promptly given the ball back. However, the effort from the young Colombian was not the best and fell wide of the goal, in the 72nd minute. Not much happened after that as Real Madrid took possession and managed to kill off the game as they defeated Liverpool really easily as they look to El Clasico this weekend against Barcelona.