Liverpool v Real Madrid ratings: Alisson 4, Salah 7; Benzema 8, Vinicius Junior 9

Repeat of last season's Champions League final ends with Spanish side winning 5-2 at Anfield

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  LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker 4: No chance stopping Vinicius’s stunning opening goal. Horrible mistake when his pass out from back rebounded off Vinicius and into the net to make it 2-2. Wong-footed by deflection on fourth goal, rounded by Benzema for fifth. Reuters

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  Trent Alexander-Arnold 6: Impressive passing display in first-half as right-back picked out teammates at will down right flank. Curled free-kick straight at keeper just before break. Like rest of Liverpool defence, found Vinicius a handful – to say the least. Getty

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  Joe Gomez 4: Sloppy defending gifted chance to Rodrygo in opening 10 minutes but Real attacker failed to take advantage. Clumsy challenge on Vinicius gave away free-kick that led to Real going 3-2 up just after half-time, then deflected Benzema shot into the net minutes later for fourth goal. EPA

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  Virgil Van Dijk 6: Came to Gomez’s rescue when he blocked Rodrygo shot after defensive partner lost possession in first-half but even class and experience of Dutchman couldn’t prevent Real running riot as match went on. PA

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  Andrew Robertson 6: Wonderful sliding interception just before break stopped Rodrygo tapping home to make it 3-2 just before half-time. Has been brutal about Liverpool's failings this season and could do nothing as team fell apart in spectacular fashion again. Getty

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  Jordan Henderson 5: Made some decent runs forward between the lines in first-half but made wrong call when he tried to anticipate Vinicius ahead Real’s opener, allowing Brazilian space to shoot. Father Time has caught up with experienced midfielder at this level. AP

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  Fabinho 6: Some tough tackling from Brazilian midfielder but he and Henderson were made to look pedestrian against quality of Real’s movement on occasions. EPA

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  Stefan Bajcetic 5: Teenage midfielder has played his way into Liverpool’s starting XI of late but found the going tough at times against Real’s star-studded midfield. Distribution not up to required standard. Getty

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  Mohamed Salah 7: Provided assist for Nunez’s early goal and will be disappointed he didn’t score himself when he side-footed chance wide not long after. But did score in 15th minute after capitalising on terrible Courtois blunder. Faded after sparkling first half hour. AP

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  Cody Gakpo 5: Dutch attacker was aiming to make it three goals on the spin but made very little impact for Merseysiders here and was no surprise when he was hooked just after hour mark. EPA

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  Darwin Nunez 6: Audacious backheel finish to put Liverpool ahead after three minutes and showed his willingness to track back with an important interception at other end of pitch later in half. Not a sniff of goal in second-half when Liverpool failed to lay glove on Real. AP

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  SUBS: Roberto Firmino (On for Nunez 64’) 5: Lost possession just after coming on which started Real’s counter-attack for fifth goal. Headed chance straight at keeper. Reuters Diogo Jota (On for Gapko 64’) 5: Portuguese has barely played this season due to injury and little chance to make impact here.

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  James Milner (On for Henderson 73’) 5: Thankless introduction for veteran who was brought on with his team 5-2 down. AP

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  Joel Matip (On for Gomez 73’) 6: Experienced defender can at least say no more goals were scored after he came on. AP

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  REAL MADRID RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois 5: The hero of last year’s final in Paris gifted Salah Liverpool’s second goal with a horrendous error - but it didn’t prove crucial as Real ripped opponents apart at other end of pitch. EPA

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  Dani Carvajal 8: Top-quality performance from right-back who never looked flustered and hardly put a foot wrong. Push on Nunez at start of second half had Liverpool striker claiming a penalty but rightly waved away by referee. AFP

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  Eder Militao 8: Caught sleeping as Nunez found space for his very early goal and had to limp off injured after 25 minutes. Blocked Nunez’s close-range shot as Liverpool nearly made it 3-1 in first half. Stooping header from defender made it 3-2 to Real. EPA

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  Antonio Rudiger 7: Former Chelsea defender back on English turf was solid at back for Spaniard and went for one optimistic strike from distance at other end of pitch in second half that that flew wide. Embarrassing over-reaction after being caught in face by Nunez at one point. Reuters

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  David Alaba 4: Was struggling badly against the runs of Salah and the passing of Alexander-Arnold before having to limp off injured before half-hour mark. A night to forget for Austrian on night to remember for Real. AFP

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  Luka Modric 8: Picked out Militao with perfect low free-kick from left-hand side of penalty area that saw Brazilian head Real in front just after break. At heart of counter-attack for team’s fifth goal. Croatian took control of midfield in second half as Real took control of game – and tie as whole. Getty

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  Eduardo Camavinga 8: Key player in midfield alongside Modric as Real managed to turnaround two-goal deficit in some style at Anfield. Won important tackles and kept things simple with his distribution. EPA

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  Federico Valverde 8: Scored 12th goal of season against Osasuna at the weekend but shot wildly over bar when well placed in first half. Superb industry and workrate from one of the form players in world football. AFP

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  Rodrygo 8: Must have thought Real’s third goal was coming his way on brink of half-time after being teed-up by excellent Vinicius cross only for Robertson to block in style. Helped Real torment Liverpool at the back. Getty

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  Karim Benzema 8: The prolific French striker had very little sniff of goal but it was his shot - via big deflection off Gomez - that made it 4-2. Brilliant composure to round Alisson and score the fifth. Getty

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  Vinicius Junior 9: Two goals for Brazilian – one a brilliant finish from edge of box, the other lucky when countryman Allison booted a clearance off his leg that looped into the net. Saw another shot saved by goalkeeper in chaotic first-half. Booked for time wasting in second. EPA

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  SUBS: Nacho (On for Alaba 27’) 8: Early introduction after Alaba’s injury and struggled to adapt to ferocious pace of game after coming on but did well in end helping keep Salah quiet for rest of game. Reuters

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  Dani Ceballos (On for Rodrygo 80’) N/A. AP

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  Marco Asensio (On for Benzema 86’) N/A. AP Toni Kroos (On for Modric 86’) N/A.

Real Madrid put one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals after thrashing Liverpool 5-2 at Anfield on Tuesday.

In a repeat of last season's final – won by Real in Paris – the Spanish side came back from two goals down in a remarkable game on Merseyside.

Darwin Nunez had back-heeled Liverpool into an early lead, before Mohamed Salah made it 2-0 following a dreadful error by Thibaut Courtois, who was man of the match in last year's final.

But from that moment, it was Real's night. First up was Vinicius Junior who fired home brilliant 21st-minute strike to pull a goal back.

The scores were level 15 minutes later courtesy of another goalkeeper blunder when Alisson Becker booted a clearance straight at Vinicius Junior and watched in horror as the ball looped into the net.

Real were in front two minutes after the break when Eder Militao headed in Luka Modric's free-kick and Carlo Ancelotti's side doubled their lead when Karim Benzema's shot deflected in off Joe Gomez.

French striker Benzema made it five himself with a calm finish after superb work from midfielder Luka Modric.

It is a result that leaves Liverpool with the steepest of mountains to climb ahead of the last-16 second-leg that takes place at the Bernabeu in Spain on March 15.

You can see the player ratings from Anfield in the gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or swipe if using a mobile device.