• REAL MADRID RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois - 6: Hardly any pressure was applied on the Belgian. He was confident on crosses and could do little for the goal. Getty
    REAL MADRID RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois - 6: Hardly any pressure was applied on the Belgian. He was confident on crosses and could do little for the goal. Getty
  • Lucas Vazquez - 6: The right back was disciplined and ensured that Mane and Robertson found little joy down his wing. He played Salah onside for the goal. AFP
    Lucas Vazquez - 6: The right back was disciplined and ensured that Mane and Robertson found little joy down his wing. He played Salah onside for the goal. AFP
  • Eder Militao - 7: The only real lapse in an assured performance was when Jota ran at him in the lead-up to Liverpool's goal. He easily dealt with Mane when the Senegalese drifted inside. EPA
    Eder Militao - 7: The only real lapse in an assured performance was when Jota ran at him in the lead-up to Liverpool's goal. He easily dealt with Mane when the Senegalese drifted inside. EPA
  • Nacho - 7: The 31-year-old was supposed to be a weak link in the injury-hit defence but excelled. He was calm, won most of his tackles and distributed the ball well. AP
    Nacho - 7: The 31-year-old was supposed to be a weak link in the injury-hit defence but excelled. He was calm, won most of his tackles and distributed the ball well. AP
  • Ferland Mendy - 7: The Frenchman ranged down the left wing and produced a nice cross for Vinicius early on. He was more restrained in the second half and was largely untroubled defensively. AFP
    Ferland Mendy - 7: The Frenchman ranged down the left wing and produced a nice cross for Vinicius early on. He was more restrained in the second half and was largely untroubled defensively. AFP
  • Luka Modric - 7: The Croat set the tempo from deep in the midfield. He provided the pass for the third goal and his class was obvious throughout. Getty
    Luka Modric - 7: The Croat set the tempo from deep in the midfield. He provided the pass for the third goal and his class was obvious throughout. Getty
  • Casemiro - 7: The Brazilian’s role was to bolster the defence and he swept up loose balls and cut out danger. His passing was at its best when he kept things simple. AFP
    Casemiro - 7: The Brazilian’s role was to bolster the defence and he swept up loose balls and cut out danger. His passing was at its best when he kept things simple. AFP
  • Toni Kroos - 8: The German picked out Vinicius with a marvellous long ball to open the scoring and tested the defence with his passing. He was behind most of Real’s best work. EPA
    Toni Kroos - 8: The German picked out Vinicius with a marvellous long ball to open the scoring and tested the defence with his passing. He was behind most of Real’s best work. EPA
  • Marco Asensio - 7: The 25-year-old seized on a defensive mistake and scored the second goal with aplomb. He wasted a dangerous counter attack in the second half and was replaced by Valverde after 70 minutes. Getty
    Marco Asensio - 7: The 25-year-old seized on a defensive mistake and scored the second goal with aplomb. He wasted a dangerous counter attack in the second half and was replaced by Valverde after 70 minutes. Getty
  • Karim Benzema - 7: The Frenchman was not allowed any real opportunities but contributed some astute passing and movement to create space for team-mates. AFP
    Karim Benzema - 7: The Frenchman was not allowed any real opportunities but contributed some astute passing and movement to create space for team-mates. AFP
  • Vinicius Junior - 8: The 20-year-old scored two and caused havoc with his direct running. His first strike showed marvellous technique and his second showed the value of shooting early. The damage to Liverpool was done by the time he was withdrawn for Rodrygo with five minutes left. Getty
    Vinicius Junior - 8: The 20-year-old scored two and caused havoc with his direct running. His first strike showed marvellous technique and his second showed the value of shooting early. The damage to Liverpool was done by the time he was withdrawn for Rodrygo with five minutes left. Getty
  • SUBS: Federico Valverde - 6: The Uruguayan came on for Asenio with 20 minutes left. He brought energy to the midfield and helped see the game out. AP
    SUBS: Federico Valverde - 6: The Uruguayan came on for Asenio with 20 minutes left. He brought energy to the midfield and helped see the game out. AP
  • Rodrygo - 5: The 20-year-old replaced Vinicius for the final five minutes. He ran hard but did not have enough time to make a significant impact. Getty
    Rodrygo - 5: The 20-year-old replaced Vinicius for the final five minutes. He ran hard but did not have enough time to make a significant impact. Getty
  • LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 4: The Brazilian was let down by his defenders for the first two goals but should have done much better on the third. AFP
    LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 4: The Brazilian was let down by his defenders for the first two goals but should have done much better on the third. AFP
  • Trent Alexander-Arnold - 3: A terrible first half for the 22-year-old. He should have been more aware for the first goal and his misplaced header set up the second. Better after half time but a bad night overall. AFP
    Trent Alexander-Arnold - 3: A terrible first half for the 22-year-old. He should have been more aware for the first goal and his misplaced header set up the second. Better after half time but a bad night overall. AFP
  • Nathaniel Phillips - 4: The centre back was effective in the air but his flaws were exposed by Real. He was caught in no-man’s land for Vinicius’ opener and was too far away from the Brazilian striker for the third goal. EPA
    Nathaniel Phillips - 4: The centre back was effective in the air but his flaws were exposed by Real. He was caught in no-man’s land for Vinicius’ opener and was too far away from the Brazilian striker for the third goal. EPA
  • Ozan Kabak - 4: The Turk started well and was alert to early danger. He lost composure as the defence struggled and was lucky not to be embarrassed by a mishit back pass. Replaced by Firmino with nine minutes left. AFP
    Ozan Kabak - 4: The Turk started well and was alert to early danger. He lost composure as the defence struggled and was lucky not to be embarrassed by a mishit back pass. Replaced by Firmino with nine minutes left. AFP
  • Andrew Robertson - 5: The Scot was the best of Liverpool’s defenders but the bar was low. He lacked his usual zest and was ineffective going forward. Getty
    Andrew Robertson - 5: The Scot was the best of Liverpool’s defenders but the bar was low. He lacked his usual zest and was ineffective going forward. Getty
  • Fabinho - 4: The Brazilian never got to the pace of the Real midfield. He was unusually static and easily bypassed by the home side's crisp passing. PA
    Fabinho - 4: The Brazilian never got to the pace of the Real midfield. He was unusually static and easily bypassed by the home side's crisp passing. PA
  • Georginio Wijnaldum - 4: The Dutchman gave away possession too often. He had a brief flurry in the second half and contributed to his team’s goal but then backslid into anonymity. AP
    Georginio Wijnaldum - 4: The Dutchman gave away possession too often. He had a brief flurry in the second half and contributed to his team’s goal but then backslid into anonymity. AP
  • Naby Keita - 2: A dreadful performance. The Guinean contributed little to the game and was dragged off before half time and replaced by Thiago. His time at Anfield is running out. AP
    Naby Keita - 2: A dreadful performance. The Guinean contributed little to the game and was dragged off before half time and replaced by Thiago. His time at Anfield is running out. AP
  • Mohamed Salah - 6: The Egyptian hardly touched the ball for 51 minutes but took his chance and scored when the opportunity arose. He tried his best to eke out another goal but was starved of service. AFP
    Mohamed Salah - 6: The Egyptian hardly touched the ball for 51 minutes but took his chance and scored when the opportunity arose. He tried his best to eke out another goal but was starved of service. AFP
  • Diogo Jota - 5: The Portuguese dropped too deep in the first half but his direct run and blocked shot brought Liverpool back into the game when the ball fell to Salah. Taken off for Firmino in the 81st minute. AFP
    Diogo Jota - 5: The Portuguese dropped too deep in the first half but his direct run and blocked shot brought Liverpool back into the game when the ball fell to Salah. Taken off for Firmino in the 81st minute. AFP
  • Sadio Mane - 4: The Senegalese seemed to do everything in slow motion. He looks badly in need of a prolonged rest. Even on bad days he has been a handful this season but the Real defence were unworried by his presence. AFP
    Sadio Mane - 4: The Senegalese seemed to do everything in slow motion. He looks badly in need of a prolonged rest. Even on bad days he has been a handful this season but the Real defence were unworried by his presence. AFP
  • SUBS: Thiago Alcantara - 4: The 29-year-old replaced Keita before half time and improved the side but he was unable to wrest the impetus from Real. He was lucky to get away with an ill-advised attempt to control the ball on his chest in his own area. PA
    SUBS: Thiago Alcantara - 4: The 29-year-old replaced Keita before half time and improved the side but he was unable to wrest the impetus from Real. He was lucky to get away with an ill-advised attempt to control the ball on his chest in his own area. PA
  • Roberto Firmino - 4: The Brazilian tried to get on the ball after entering the game for Jota with nine minutes left but he only found blind alleys. AFP
    Roberto Firmino - 4: The Brazilian tried to get on the ball after entering the game for Jota with nine minutes left but he only found blind alleys. AFP
  • Xherdan Shaqiri - 4: Joined the action for Kabak in the 81st minute. The Swiss saw a lot of the ball and made a lot of sideways passes. EPA
    Xherdan Shaqiri - 4: Joined the action for Kabak in the 81st minute. The Swiss saw a lot of the ball and made a lot of sideways passes. EPA

Football

Real Madrid v Liverpool player ratings: Vinicius 8, Kroos 8; Alexander-Arnold 3, Keita 2

Liverpool picked apart by Spanish giants in Champions League quarter-final

Tony Evans

April 07, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Vinicius Junior scored twice as Real Madrid made Liverpool pay for defensive errors with a 3-1 victory putting them in sight of the Champions League semi-finals.

Vinicius and Marco Asensio both profited in the first half after darting behind Liverpool's makeshift back-line before a simple move from a throw-in gave Vinicius a simple finish in the second period.

Mohamed Salah's strike shortly after the interval briefly made it a contest at Valdebebas, with an away goal certainly a significant consolation for Liverpool to take into the second leg at Anfield next week.

But without fans and with a miserable recent record at home, manager Jurgen Klopp will know his side have it all to do to avoid his team's season becoming solely about scraping into the Premier League's top four.

"We didn't play well enough, that's my first concern," said Klopp. "We didn't deserve to win tonight, but the good news is that there is another match.

"We are going to fight, 3-1 is not good, but we have a chance."

Player ratings from the match can be seen in the picture gallery above. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe if on a mobile device.

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