• LIVERPOOL PLAYER RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 6. The Brazilian did not see much action against a cautious Real but he was alert when needed. The best moment was a superb stop when Vinicius ran free on goal in the second half. PA
    LIVERPOOL PLAYER RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 6. The Brazilian did not see much action against a cautious Real but he was alert when needed. The best moment was a superb stop when Vinicius ran free on goal in the second half. PA
  • Trent Alexander-Arnold - 7. The 22-year-old was impressive at both ends of the pitch. He did not allow Vinicius the same freedom as in the first leg. The team rely too much on the full-back's crossing but his delivery was very good. PA
    Trent Alexander-Arnold - 7. The 22-year-old was impressive at both ends of the pitch. He did not allow Vinicius the same freedom as in the first leg. The team rely too much on the full-back's crossing but his delivery was very good. PA
  • Nathaniel Phillips - 6. The centre back was lucky to get away with a mistake when he was robbed by Benzema but he stood strong overall. He made a couple of cynical challenges when caught out. Getty Images
    Nathaniel Phillips - 6. The centre back was lucky to get away with a mistake when he was robbed by Benzema but he stood strong overall. He made a couple of cynical challenges when caught out. Getty Images
  • Ozan Kabak - 6. The Turk gave the ball away too often but was not put under severe pressure by Real. He was quick to stop counter-attacks. Substituted for Jota with 30 minutes left. AFP
    Ozan Kabak - 6. The Turk gave the ball away too often but was not put under severe pressure by Real. He was quick to stop counter-attacks. Substituted for Jota with 30 minutes left. AFP
  • Andrew Robertson - 6. The Scot worked relentlessly up and down the wing and provided an outlet when the central players needed help. He always looked for the crossfield pass to release teammates into space. Reuters
    Andrew Robertson - 6. The Scot worked relentlessly up and down the wing and provided an outlet when the central players needed help. He always looked for the crossfield pass to release teammates into space. Reuters
  • James Milner - 7. The 35-year-old went close with a shot from distance and put himself about. He made a crucial interception in his own area before being replaced by Thiago on the hour. Getty Images
    James Milner - 7. The 35-year-old went close with a shot from distance and put himself about. He made a crucial interception in his own area before being replaced by Thiago on the hour. Getty Images
  • Fabinho - 7. The Brazilian was much better than in the first leg. He ensured his side had the advantage in midfield and protected the defence. AP
    Fabinho - 7. The Brazilian was much better than in the first leg. He ensured his side had the advantage in midfield and protected the defence. AP
  • Georginio Wijnaldum - 6. The Dutchman was keen to get forward and executed a couple of splendid turns in midfield to get attacks started. He had one great chance but skied the ball over the bar just before half time. EPA
    Georginio Wijnaldum - 6. The Dutchman was keen to get forward and executed a couple of splendid turns in midfield to get attacks started. He had one great chance but skied the ball over the bar just before half time. EPA
  • Mohamed Salah - 6. The Egyptian wasted a wonderful chance to bring his team back into the tie early in the first half. He kept the defence unnerved but was unable to make his menace pay off. Getty Images
    Mohamed Salah - 6. The Egyptian wasted a wonderful chance to bring his team back into the tie early in the first half. He kept the defence unnerved but was unable to make his menace pay off. Getty Images
  • Roberto Firmino - 6. The Brazilian failed to pick out Alexander-Arnold when in a dangerous position before the break. He had a number of half chances in the second period, the best of which was blocked by Militao. He made way for Oxlade-Chamberlain with eight minutes left. Getty Images
    Roberto Firmino - 6. The Brazilian failed to pick out Alexander-Arnold when in a dangerous position before the break. He had a number of half chances in the second period, the best of which was blocked by Militao. He made way for Oxlade-Chamberlain with eight minutes left. Getty Images
  • Sadio Mane - 6. The Senegalese started brightly and made life difficult for Valverde. He never carried through with the threat and faded before being replaced by Shaqiri in the 82nd minute. Getty Images
    Sadio Mane - 6. The Senegalese started brightly and made life difficult for Valverde. He never carried through with the threat and faded before being replaced by Shaqiri in the 82nd minute. Getty Images
  • SUBS: Thiago Alcantara - 5. The 30-year-old came on for Milner with half an hour left but could not change the game. By then Real were sitting deep and the passing lanes were closed down. Reuters
    SUBS: Thiago Alcantara - 5. The 30-year-old came on for Milner with half an hour left but could not change the game. By then Real were sitting deep and the passing lanes were closed down. Reuters
  • Diogo Jota - 6. The Portuguese replaced Kabak in the 60th minute but found himself aiming for goal from narrow angles. He shot into the side-netting but never worried Courtois. Reuters
    Diogo Jota - 6. The Portuguese replaced Kabak in the 60th minute but found himself aiming for goal from narrow angles. He shot into the side-netting but never worried Courtois. Reuters
  • Xherdan Shaqiri - 6. The Swiss had lots of touches in the eight minutes remaining after he replaced Mane but the defence kept him at arm’s length. He tried hard to no avail. Getty Images
    Xherdan Shaqiri - 6. The Swiss had lots of touches in the eight minutes remaining after he replaced Mane but the defence kept him at arm’s length. He tried hard to no avail. Getty Images
  • Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 5. The Englishman joined the game after Firmino’s substitution with eight minutes left. He had one good run in stoppage time but it finished with an aimless cross. PA
    Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 5. The Englishman joined the game after Firmino’s substitution with eight minutes left. He had one good run in stoppage time but it finished with an aimless cross. PA
  • REAL MADRID PLAYER RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois - 8. The Belgian made two vital saves from Salah at the beginning and end of the game, the first setting the tone for the match. In between he was excellent, making a spectacular full-stretch stop from Milner. EPA
    REAL MADRID PLAYER RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois - 8. The Belgian made two vital saves from Salah at the beginning and end of the game, the first setting the tone for the match. In between he was excellent, making a spectacular full-stretch stop from Milner. EPA
  • Federico Valverde - 7. The midfielder was deployed at right back. He struggled with Mane early on but grew into the game and produced a fine pass to create a chance for Vinicius. PA
    Federico Valverde - 7. The midfielder was deployed at right back. He struggled with Mane early on but grew into the game and produced a fine pass to create a chance for Vinicius. PA
  • Eder Militao - 7. The Brazilian made a fantastic block from Firmino in the second half and looked composed throughout. He was good in the air against the barrage of crosses. Reuters
    Eder Militao - 7. The Brazilian made a fantastic block from Firmino in the second half and looked composed throughout. He was good in the air against the barrage of crosses. Reuters
  • Nacho - 8. The 31-year-old fourth-choice centre back ensured any danger was dealt with quickly. He made a number of important clearances and used his experience to lead the defence. Reuters
    Nacho - 8. The 31-year-old fourth-choice centre back ensured any danger was dealt with quickly. He made a number of important clearances and used his experience to lead the defence. Reuters
  • Ferland Mendy - 6. The Frenchman got into some awkward situations but used his pace to bail himself out. Made a poor clearance late on. PA
    Ferland Mendy - 6. The Frenchman got into some awkward situations but used his pace to bail himself out. Made a poor clearance late on. PA
  • Luka Modric - 6. The Croat was given too much freedom to pick his passes but was not his usual precise self. He was aware that Real did not need to be gung-ho and played conservatively. Reuters
    Luka Modric - 6. The Croat was given too much freedom to pick his passes but was not his usual precise self. He was aware that Real did not need to be gung-ho and played conservatively. Reuters
  • Casemiro - 8. The Brazilian was up for a battle and got it. He scythed through Milner and broke up attacks repeatedly. The 29-year-old was not backing down and led by example. PA
    Casemiro - 8. The Brazilian was up for a battle and got it. He scythed through Milner and broke up attacks repeatedly. The 29-year-old was not backing down and led by example. PA
  • Toni Kroos - 5. The German was nowhere near as influential as in the first leg in Madrid. He was not given time to pick out long passes and took a cautious approach. Replaced by Odriozola with 18 minutes left. Getty Images
    Toni Kroos - 5. The German was nowhere near as influential as in the first leg in Madrid. He was not given time to pick out long passes and took a cautious approach. Replaced by Odriozola with 18 minutes left. Getty Images
  • Marco Asensio - 5. A quiet night for the 25-year-old. Real’s emphasis was on stopping Liverpool getting back into the tie and he saw too little of the ball. AP
    Marco Asensio - 5. A quiet night for the 25-year-old. Real’s emphasis was on stopping Liverpool getting back into the tie and he saw too little of the ball. AP
  • Karim Benzema - 6. The Frenchman had a deflected pass hit the post after dispossessing Phillips. He missed a free header in the second half that would have killed the tie. On the plus side, he led the line well and held the ball up. Getty Images
    Karim Benzema - 6. The Frenchman had a deflected pass hit the post after dispossessing Phillips. He missed a free header in the second half that would have killed the tie. On the plus side, he led the line well and held the ball up. Getty Images
  • Vinicius Junior - 5. The Brazilian was kept quiet by the defence and on the one occasion he showed his pace, the winger was foiled by Alisson. Taken off for Rodrygo with 18 minutes to go. Getty Images
    Vinicius Junior - 5. The Brazilian was kept quiet by the defence and on the one occasion he showed his pace, the winger was foiled by Alisson. Taken off for Rodrygo with 18 minutes to go. Getty Images
  • SUBS: Alvaro Odriozola - 6. The defender was brought on for Kroos to shore up the back line with 18 minutes left. He did his job well with rigorous blocks and tackles. PA
    SUBS: Alvaro Odriozola - 6. The defender was brought on for Kroos to shore up the back line with 18 minutes left. He did his job well with rigorous blocks and tackles. PA
  • Rodrygo - 5. Replaced Vinicius after 72 minutes but made little impact. He joined the game at the point Real sat deeper and deeper. AFP
    Rodrygo - 5. Replaced Vinicius after 72 minutes but made little impact. He joined the game at the point Real sat deeper and deeper. AFP
  • Isco - 6. Sent on for Asensio with eight minutes left. He reinforced the defence and helped see out the closing minutes. Getty Images
    Isco - 6. Sent on for Asensio with eight minutes left. He reinforced the defence and helped see out the closing minutes. Getty Images

Football

Liverpool v Real Madrid player ratings: Mohamed Salah wastes wonderful chance as Casemiro leads by example

La Liga giants set up Champions League semi-final with Chelsea after goalless draw at Anfield ensures 3-1 aggregate win

Tony Evans

April 15, 2021

  • English
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Real Madrid moved into the semi-finals of the Uefa Champions League with a 0-0 second-leg draw at Liverpool on Wednesday earning them a 3-1 aggregate win.

The 13-time European champions will face Chelsea in the last four.

Liverpool, the 2019 Champions League winners, created enough chances in the opening 45 minutes to have turned the tie around but they ran out of ideas in the second half.

Mohamed Salah and Georginio Wijnaldum had the best opportunities for Liverpool but failed to find the target and Real keeper Thibaut Courtois made every save he was forced into.

Real's makeshift defence, without skipper Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane, held firm after the break despite Juergen Klopp throwing on Diogo Jota into a four-pronged attack.

Assessing the performances at Anfield, Tony Evans has provided his player ratings in the photo gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrow or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.

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