It is the result we were expecting, but painful all the same for those at Anfield. Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring and thereby secured Real Madrid’s first ever goal against .
Karim Benzema followed with a double that combined poaching instincts and pathetic defending.
In the second half, the substitution of Adam Lallana for Mario Balotelli immediately gave Liverpool additional thrust in the final third.
In truth, Liverpool could have and should have scored at least one goal, but Real Madrid were comfortable throughout, even in the hostile furnace that is Anfield.
FINAL SCORE:
Real Madrid 3
Liverpool 0
It’s a meeting of footballing royalty as five-time winners Liverpool host 10-time and current champions Real Madrid in Matchday 3 of the UEFA Champions League. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 5:30am (AEDT).
For a club whose name is firmly entrenched in the history books, Real Madrid dare not relive their previous outing at Anfield. It’s been more than five years since the Steven Gerrard-led Reds dismantled Los Blancos 4-0 in their second-round fixture.
Admittedly, Liverpool caught Real Madrid at one of their weakest points in recent history, while the Reds were riding the crest of a wave under former manager Rafa Benitez.
Much has changed since. While Real Madrid have continued the momentum gained from winning their unprecedented 10th crown last May, Liverpool have crashed to mediocrity following their failed Premier League title challenge last season.
Forget that Real Madrid have indeed never scored against Liverpool – the question is how many the visitors can smash past a hopelessly out-of-sync Reds’ defence.
Much of the early season malaise for Liverpool can be chalked down to two figures, one who now calls Barcelona home. If the departure of Luis Suarez wasn’t bad enough, then the sight of his replacement Mario Balotelli bumbling along statue busker proportions will now seriously wear thin even among the most chauvinistic Red.
Gone is the high-octane energy of the Uruguayan that drove a relentless barrage of pressure towards opposition defences. Furthering Brendan Rodgers’ woes is the continued absence of Daniel Sturridge, who suffered a fresh injury midweek.
Never was Liverpool’s lack of fluency more evident than in their weekend clash against Queens Park Rangers, where two own-goals were needed to overcome a team firmly in relegation contention.
If positives are to be drawn, then the sight of the diminutive Raheem Sterling must be central to Liverpool overcoming the odds and keeping their proud record against Real Madrid alive. Playing at home, and alongside Adam Lallana and the tireless Jordan Henderson, Liverpool will have opportunities to pose questions against Real Madrid.
Rodgers will likely revert Gerrard back in a defensive role, or turn to Brazilian Lucas Leiva to keep Real Madrid’s assortment of Galacticos quiet. But the real question will be whether Rodgers continues to persist with the maligned Balotelli, or if he decides to hedge his bets on the energy of Fabio Borini or the experience of Rickie Lambert.
No such concerns for Carlo Ancelotti, whose troubles usually involve who to leave out. His selection headaches may be somewhat be forcibly solved should Gareth Bale be not fit to play an English club for the first time since his move to the Spanish capital two summers ago.
Looming large though is Cristiano Ronaldo, who is already public enemy number one in the red parts of Merseyside due to his Manchester United history. Further to that, the Portuguese has amassed 15 goals in seven appearances this season – only two less than Liverpool have scored in all competitions.
Greater tests than Liverpool will await Real Madrid, but one aspect of their play that may be tested by the Reds is their ability to control midfield against stronger opposition. The summer departure of Xabi Alonso, he of both Liverpool and Real Madrid past, continues to be a question that may haunt Ancelotti should Los Blancos not compete against teams of European pedigree. But it is difficult to speculate about possible weaknesses, such is the abundant strength of Real Madrid.
The Anfield factor may play a role in helping Liverpool gain resolve – so large has the hunger been for European nights of this magnitude in these parts. But no Reds fan ever wanted their team to face the defending champions in the position where anything but a severe defeat will solicit surprise.
AZ_RBB
Guest
They were never going to be contenders in Europe. There is now, unfortunately, an elite league of 3 clubs who are head and shoulders above the rest. Anything but a Barca, Real or Bayern UCL win will be a huge upset. It will take something special from Chelsea to match them.
Leonardo
Roar Guru
Great work thanks Vas.
Leonardo
Roar Guru
What's happened to Liverpool? In a few short months from contenders to pretenders. Their attack has lost a lot of its bite since Suarez left.
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
Thanks for your company this morning. Real Madrid, for all intents and purposes, have secured passage to the next stage, as Liverpool, Ludogorets and Basel are left to battle for the second place scraps. I'll be back in the wee hours of Monday morning to bring you the Premier League clash from Old Trafford, as Manchester United host Chelsea. At fulltime at Anfield, it finished Liverpool 0-3 Real Madrid
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
TABLES AFTER MATCHDAY 3 Group A Olympiakos (6, 0) Atletico Madrid (6, +4) Juventus (3, 0) Malmo (3, -3) Group B Real Madrid (9, +8) Liverpool (3, -3) Ludogorets (3, -1) Basel (3, -4) Group C Bayer Leverkusen (6, +3) Monaco (5, +1) Zenit Saint Petersburg (4, 0) Benfica (1, -4) Group D Borussia Dortmund (9, +9) Arsenal (6, +2) Anderlecht (1, -4) Galatasaray (1, -7) Group E Bayern Munich (9, +8) Roma (4, -2) Manchester City (2, -1) CSKA Moscow (1, -5) Group F PSG (7, +2) Barcelona (6, +2) Ajax (2, -2) APOEL (1, -2) Group G Chelsea (7, +7) Schalke (5, +1) Maribor (2, -6) Sporting CP (1, -2) Group H Porto (7,+7) Shakhtar Donetsk (5, +7) BATE (3, -12) Athletic Bilbao (1, -2)
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
AROUND THE GROUNDS Atletico Madrid 5-0 Malmo Olympiakos 1-0 Juventus Ludogorets 1-0 Basel Liverpool 0-3 Real Madrid Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 Zenit Saint Petersburg Monaco 0-0 Benfica Anderlecht 1-2 Arsenal Galatasaray 0-4 Borussia Dortmund
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
FULLTIME: Craig Foster says something I agree with (had to happen at some point): "Mario Balotelli is a complete waste of space". Just waiting for the results from the other grounds. Currently in Bulgaria, Ludogorets and Basel are still at 0-0. A stalemate there would be a good result for Liverpool, as they now play catchup for the second half of this group stage. FULLTIME: Real Madrid 0-3 Liverpool
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
FULLTIME: It is the result we were expecting, but painful all the same for those at Anfield. Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring, and thereby secured Real Madrid's first ever goal against Liverpool. Karim Benzema followed with a double that combined poaching instincts and pathetic defending. In the second half, the substitution of Adam Lallana for Mario Balotelli immediately gave Liverpool additional thrust in the final third. In truth, Liverpool could have and should have scored at least one goal, but Real Madrid were comfortable throughout, even in the hostile furnace that is Anfield. FULLTIME: Real Madrid 0-3 Liverpool
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'90: Strains of "You'll Never Walk Alone" break into stride at Anfield, in a hopeful fashion of better times to come. Two minutes added, and it's two minutes where the best Liverpool can hope for is no further damage. Real Madrid look in no mood to engage, as Barcelona now loom large. Real Madrid 3-0 Liverpool
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'88: Based on this display, Liverpool cannot and will not be able to progress past the group stages of this competition. But you wonder whether Brendan Rodgers would prefer to do without a Europa League campaign that potentially distracts from their main goal of securing a top four place for next season. Ronaldo with ice on the knee. Possibly a mere precaution ahead of the game he measures himself - a home derby against Barcelona. Real Madrid 3-0 Liverpool
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'85: Dare I say it, but Real Madrid had a harder time in defeating Ludogorets than they have had tonight. On the other side, Liverpool fans will bemoan the presence of Arbeloa in that number 17 white shirt. It was in the number 17 red shirt where he was able to be part of a team that beat Real Madrid 4-0 nearly six years ago. The man who replaced him, Glen Johnson was responsible at least for the second goal, and generally typifies Liverpool's paucity in defence. Real Madrid 3-0 Liverpool
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'84: Chance for Liverpool! Great ball is delivered for Sterling, but Arbeloa gets there in time to concede another corner. It was a wicked cross in! Final change is on for Madrid, as Nacho replaces Marcelo. Real Madrid 3-0 Liverpool
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'82: Corner for Liverpool earnt by Markovic. Can they get a consolation that may give them something to aspire to in Madrid in two weeks time? Cleared away by Pepe. Real Madrid 3-0 Liverpool
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'81: Toni Kroos is off for Real Madrid for Asier Illarramendi. Why Bayern Munich let Kroos leave the Allianz Arena, I will never know. Real Madrid 3-0 Liverpool
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'79: Real's players clearly have taken their foot of the accelerator. With a home El Clasico derby in mind, they are happy to settle for a 3-0 win at Anfield, as I suspect any away side would be content with. Real readying their second change. Liverpool have made all their three subs. Real Madrid 3-0 Liverpool
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'75: Offside against Adam Lallana, as Ancelotti pulls Cristiano Ronaldo having El Clasico firmly in mind this weekend. He walks off to warm cheers from the Real fans, but generous boos ring around Anfield to see the departing former Manchester United man replaced by Sami Khedira. Real Madrid 3-0 Liverpool
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'72: Another counter, this time by Emre Can for Liverpool. His pass though to spread for Markovic was too heavy, and gave Varane the time to deal with the threat. Flag up! Great chance Liverpool, as the newlook Liverpool frontline of Sterling, Markovic and Lallana play some lovely interplay around the Madrid defence. But the flag was up! At the other end, James had an even better chance, as his shot beat Mignolet and his left post wide! Chances at both ends! Real Madrid 3-0 Liverpool
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'71: Another counter by Real Madrid, as they should have scored here. Benzema had the break and spread it for James on the right flank, but the Colombian took too long to play it back for Benzema, and gave Lovren the time to crowd him out. Real Madrid 3-0 Liverpool
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'69: Liverpool continuing with "meaningless possession" in the centre of the park, but nothing to trouble the obdurate back four. Casillas with a good save from Sterling's pop! Allen's layoff for Sterling was met with a well directed shot, and Casillas handled it ably to palm it over. Real Madrid 3-0 Liverpool
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'66: Corner for Madrid, and dealt with ably enough this time. Brendan Rodgers about to introduce Emre Can and Lazar Markovic. Goals are needed, but where you desire depth, you compare Real's depth to Liverpool's, and that itself tells a story. Henderson and Coutinho make way for Can and Markovic. Coutinho runs off to warm applause. Had his shot late in the first half gone in, it could have been the makings of a different game. As such, Liverpool now attempt in vain for any opening in this Real defence. Real Madrid 3-0 Liverpool