Liverpool debacle: “It’s an absolute mess”

Real Madrid apparently saved the best for the Champions League. Panting after FC Barcelona in the Spanish league, the reigning champions in the premier class again offered a gala performance. Astonished spectators were Liverpool FC and the crowd at Anfield on Tuesday evening.

Real won 5-2 in the round of 16 first leg after a 2-0 deficit after less than 15 minutes. The new edition of last year’s final was a clear thing in the end.

“We still believed in ourselves, but coming back like this is just crazy,” said Real central defender Antonio Rüdiger. Darwin Nunez (4′) via Fersler and Mohamed Salah (14′) had given the home side the lead – Vinicius Junior (21′, 36′), Eder Militao (47′) and Karim Benzema (55′, 67′) also per Double pack made for a spectacle.

David Alaba had to leave the field after almost half an hour when the Madrilenians were 1: 2. Austria’s football star apparently suffered a muscle injury in his thigh during a defensive action.

After the final whistle, Alaba spoke up via social media with a small warning. “The work is not finished yet,” wrote the defender. On March 15th everything seems to be done in the Estadio Bernabeu.

Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp does not want to give up hope. “We’re going there, I can already say that, and we’ll try to win the game. I don’t know whether that’s possible or not,” emphasized the German. Above all, he saw defensive hosts who were not acting on an equal footing.

Has Anfield lost its terror?

Benzema, but most notably Vinicius Jr., threw Liverpool’s defense into disarray. They made something new. Liverpool had never conceded five goals on a European Cup evening in a home game.

Club legend Steven Gerrard identified a “reality check” in the Premier League after a failed start to the season in the “Reds”, who have moved back within striking distance of the Champions League starting places. “With every team that allows five goals, things have to be questioned,” said the 42-year-old. His longtime teammate Jamie Carragher spoke of an “absolute shambles” with reference to the defensive.

The English press, as was to be expected, was harsh on the losers. “As a night of history and comedy turned to humiliation and terror, all Jurgen Klopp could do was gaze at the ruins of his Anfield empire,” wrote the tabloid The Sun.

The Daily Mail said: “Anfield is a place where other teams can catch up, but not Liverpool. Anfield is actually, especially on Champions League nights, a place where Liverpool shatter their opponents’ dreams, isn’t it the other way round.”

“Let’s stay calm, there’s still a lot of time”

With Liverpool on the wane, Real once again lived up to their reputation as ‘comeback kings’. After goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois’ blunder in Salah’s goal, some might have stuck their heads in the sand.

However, as against Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea on the way to the title last year, there was a turnaround. Coach Carlo Ancelotti knew his team could draw strength from the past. But he didn’t think of such a feat either, he revealed after the game.

“When we were 2-0 down, I thought about the away game at City (3-4 after a quick 0-2, note) last year and hoped for something similar. But it got even better,” the Italian rejoiced. His team never lost confidence. “The experienced players helped the youngsters a lot. Karim, Modric and Kroos said: ‘Let’s stay calm, there’s still a lot of time’. And it worked out in the end,” said Ancelotti.

The old master was allowed to give special praise to one of his youngest. “Vinicius is the player in world football who makes the biggest difference. There is no other who takes action so consistently,” Ancelotti said of the 22-year-old Brazilian. The attacker, who polarizes on the field in Spain due to his expressive manner, shot Real in the 2022 final against Liverpool (1-0) to the title.

Statistically, Vinicius is the player with the most shots towards goal (28) and on goal (15) in the Champions League this season. He is also the most fouled professional in Europe’s top five leagues.