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Champions League: Real Madrid showed Liverpool the scale of the task ahead in Europe with 3-0 Anfield lesson

Real Madrid weathered the storm to beat Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield on a difficult night for Brendan Rodgers and his side. Adam Bate reports on a game that emphasised the gulf between the good and the great in Europe...

Liverpool players make their way back to the centre spot after conceding their third goal

There had been plenty of talk in the build-up about how Liverpool would be up for it. After all, an Anfield night against the European champions was what they’d been waiting for. Unfortunately, Real Madrid fancied this one too.

Liverpool did start brightly playing a hard pressing game from the moment Jordan Henderson fouled Cristiano Ronaldo the first chance he got. The Reds were a blur of movement and energy. “Real Madrid are finding out what a lot of teams find out here at Anfield,” said Gary Neville on co-commentary. Namely, that it can be tough to play pretty football amid the Merseyside frenzy.

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Cristiano Ronaldo's opening goal

But the problem for Brendan Rodgers soon became clear. This was a big occasion for Real as well as Liverpool. Carlo Ancelotti had spoken in his pre-match press conference of how he would leave the dressing room early to soak up the rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone. It emphasises the point that nights like these are when the big players turn up.

As a result, Real Madrid coped. In boxing parlance they waited for Liverpool to punch themselves out. In truth, Liverpool’s tempo didn’t drop much. But that brief extra moment of time on the ball was all Real’s players needed with their one-touch play and perfect control. Isco, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos with their ability to master the ball in an instant, took away the initiative.

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Image: Special atmosphere at Anfield

James Rodriguez typified the boxing analogy. Having received a cut above the eye after an early blow, the Colombian picked himself up off the deck to provide an incision of his own – a cute chip over the defence that presented Ronaldo with something resembling an opportunity. Brilliantly, he smuggled the ball in when his marker might’ve felt it unlikely. Champions League goal No.70.

There had been signs the tide was turning anyway, but this goal seemed to stun Liverpool – worryingly so, in fact. The buzz of the occasion gave way to the realisation that familiar failings  could not be shrugged off with a mere confidence trick. The current problems run deeper.

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Cristiano Ronaldo: We can win again

Steven Gerrard had admitted the night could be an ordeal if Liverpool defended as they had against Basel and, more recently, at Queens Park Rangers on Sunday. So it proved with the next two goals proving even Real Madrid aren’t above learning from the Premier League’s bottom team.

Although he was afforded far too much time to cross at his leisure, the lofted ball in from Kroos looked routine enough. But Glen Johnson contrived to misjudge the flight and two men were left free at the far post. It only required one - Karim Benzema’s floated header looping over Mignolet.

Image: Karim Benzema scored twice and neither goal reflected well on the Liverpool defence

The third came soon after with Liverpool unable to deal with a corner. A melee inside the area in which they were slow to react left Mignolet grasping for the ball as Benzema shovelled home from close range. By this stage, Real were so dominant – and Liverpool had failed so miserably to keep the danger men quiet – that Ronaldo had enjoyed more passes and touches than any home player.

Coutinho did hit a post to give a small reminder that Liverpool have qualities of their own, but just as Roma had found out in the Stadio Olimpico the previous evening, the gap between the good teams and the very best around is alarmingly big right now. Indeed, Liverpool were left grateful that a number of second-half chances were spurned by the visitors and they escaped without further punishment.

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring the opening goal for Real Madrid against Liverpool
Image: Cristiano Ronaldo: Key figure

Where do Liverpool go from here? The simple answer is home games with Hull and Swansea followed by a trip to Newcastle – offering the chance to at least rebuild some confidence. But they could be forgiven some trepidation about what’s lurking ahead on November 4th – the return match in the Bernabeu and the prospect of another Champions League lesson to endure.

Of course, there is still time to turn this around. Wins over Ludogorets and Basel should be enough to progress beyond the group. But it will be a sober Liverpool side that heads into the knockout stage even if they do make it.

This was a chastening experience and a reminder that the five years since that 4-0 win over Real Madrid and the four season absence from the elite competition can feel a long time at this level. In Europe, the message is clear – Liverpool have a long way to go.