Liverpool’s big Anfield night turns into a chastening experience at the hands of a rampant Real Madrid…
Brendan Rodgers made three alterations to his starting eleven for this eagerly anticipated visit of the reigning European champions.
Alberto Moreno, Joe Allen and Philippe Coutinho were the men in question as Jose Enrique, Emre Can and Adam Lallana all made way from the side that had defeated Queens Park Rangers 2-3 on Sunday.
The hosts started extremely brightly and full of positive intent; there was a tempo and pressing to their game that had previously been lacking for much of the season.
Despite the encouraging signs, and some decent approach play, clear-cut openings were proving hard to come by.
Indeed the first shot on target came from the visitors and predictably it was Cristiano Ronaldo who worked Simon Mignolet with a drive from the edge of the area.
Reds skipper Steven Gerrard soon followed suit though with a dipping effort that had Iker Casillas scrambling across his goal.
The experienced Spanish international shot stopper almost gifted a goal to the Merseysiders soon after by flapping at a corner.
Madrid predictably grew into the game as time went by and they took a sudden 23rd minute lead in sumptuous fashion.
Ronaldo played a one-two with James Rodriguez before neatly tucking away the chipped return high into the far corner.
Surprisingly, given his time with Manchester United, it was the Portuguese superstar’s first ever goal at Anfield.
The deficit almost became two moments later but Ronaldo’s curled effort this time flashed marginally wide with Mignolet left watching on.
There was now a sense that Liverpool were well and truly on the ropes and merely in survival mode as the men in white poured forward.
And so it was to prove as Karim Benzema expertly headed a Toni Kroos cross over Mignolet from a tight angle.
It was another well-taken goal, but on this occasion Rodgers’ side should have done better to clear the danger earlier on in the attack.
Liverpool’s own forward thrusts were becoming increasingly fleeting and those that did materialise now fell firmly into the ‘hit and hope’ category, with ambitious long balls and long-range shots prevalent.
Two became three in the 41st minute but this one owed everything to the defensive deficiencies of the hosts as opposed to attacking brilliance from Real.
There was a massive sense of familiarity about it too as the hosts failed to deal with a simple corner, allowing Benzema to poke home from close range.
On another night the half-time deficit might have been reduced as Allen went close to pulling a goal back before Philippe Coutinho beat Casillas with a powerful effort only for the post to intervene and deny the Merseysiders.
A half-time change suggested Rodgers’ patience with the ineffective and often-selfish Mario Balotelli may have finally snapped.
The £16m Italian forward was replaced by a midfielder in the shape of Lallana, facilitating an unfamiliar striking role for Raheem Sterling.
The change gave Liverpool much more pace and movement to their attack as they again started the half well.
On a number of occasions a better final ball would have created a golden chance but the fine margins become even finer at this level.
Unsurprisingly Real continued to carry a massive threat of their own at the other end.
Ronaldo was twice denied in quick succession by Mignolet, although the second instance was perhaps more about an uncharacteristically poor finish from the reigning European Player of the Year than anything else.
A host of substitutions saw summer signings Can and Lazar Markovic introduced by Rodgers, while Ronaldo was withdrawn as Carlo Ancelotti’s attention seemingly turned to this weekend’s meeting with Barcelona.
The changes, and an increasingly flat atmosphere, helped to create something more akin to a training game as time progressed.
There were plenty more openings and efforts but ultimately no further goals as Liverpool’s footballing lesson stopped short of becoming a total embarrassment.
Vital Verdict
Our positive start promised so much but once Madrid settled they were in total control for long periods and the gulf in class became all too apparent. Kroos and Luka Modric dictated and controlled the play in the middle of the park, allowing the likes of Ronaldo and Rodriguez the freedom to drift and improvise, to devastating effect. The first goal was always likely to be key and sometimes you just have to take your hat off to the opposition.
No such effusive praise should be handed down over their other two goals however as our defence aided and abetted the opposition yet again. The situation at the back really is a joke at present and our inability to deal with basic set-pieces and crosses is there for all to see. One clean sheet in 18 games is a sorry state of affairs and it’s hard to understand how you can spend around £40m on new players and actually make an area worse?!?!
Much will no doubt be made of Balotelli’s latest contribution, or lack thereof, but that’s a little harsh on a player who clearly isn’t suited to being the focal point of an attack. There are bigger issues undermining us right now than the enigmatic striker’s slow integration into a style of football alien to his plodding, individualistic approach. Rodgers will no doubt look for positives from the second half showing but much of that can be put down to Madrid taking their foot of the gas.
Fortunately this result, against the best team in Europe and runaway Group B leaders, is unlikely to have a major bearing on our chances of reaching the knockout stage. Ludogorets Razgrad’s win over FC Basel in Bulgaria leaves all three sides on three points as they chase the runners-up spot.
Star Man
Philippe Coutinho – The diminutive Brazilian was at the heart of much of Liverpool’s best stuff going forward and also worked tirelessly going the other way. After an impressive cameo against QPR at the weekend, hopefully this is the start of a better run of form from the former Inter Milan man.
Line-Up
Mignolet, Johnson, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno, Gerrard (c), Allen, Henderson (Can 67′), Coutinho (Markovic 67′), Sterling, Balotelli (Lallana 45′).
Unused subs: Jones, Toure, Manquillo, Lambert.
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defence is ridiculously bad right now. failure to improve it quickly will see us not make the knockout stages of the CL nor the top four