Liverpool vs Real Madrid: Results, highlights, and analysis of Champions League match

Real Madrid seized full control of their Champions League matchup against Liverpool in the round of 16, pulling off an incredible comeback to smash the Reds 5-2 at Anfield.By the 14th minute, the home team had jumped out to a two-goal lead, thanks to goals from Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah, who both finished off excellent team plays.Vinicius Junior scored brilliantly, but Real once more shown their European tenacity to tie the score at halftime. Alisson Becker's blunder allowed Real to do so.At the end of the second half, the spectators had no doubts about the quality of the two teams, essentially securing Madrid's spot in the quarterfinals.Two minutes after the break, Eder Militao opened the scoring before Karim Benzema added two more goals to effectively end Liverpool's chances of mounting a comeback in Madrid the following month.

Liverpool vs. Real Madrid final score

	1H	2H	Final
Liverpool	2	2	2
Real Madrid	2	5	5

Goals:

LIV—Nunez—4th min
LIV—Salah—14th min
RMA—VVinicius Jr.—21st min.
RMA—VVinicius Jr.—36th min.
RMA—Militao—47th min
RMA—Benzema—55th min
Benzema, RMA; 67th minute.

Once more, real magic hindered Liverpool's plans

Liverpool would have thought the finishing gods would be on their side this time around after a Courtois masterclass denied them Champions League success when these teams played in May.The Reds, though, were nevertheless on the losing end of a 5-2 defeat despite once again "winning the xG" over these 90 minutes.That was mostly due to the genius of Benzema and Vinicius Jr., who are among the exclusive group of athletes whose abilities aren't necessarily quantifiable by conventional statistics.Madrid is so good when they go near to the rival goal and that is why they are so unbeatable in this competition. Five goals from just six shots on goal.

Real Madrid demonstrates how to stay on top

Since their previous victory over Real Madrid, which came while Rafael Benitez was in charge, Liverpool had gone seven games without doing so.For a Reds club that is obviously in transition and will need significant adjustments when the summer rolls around, tonight's loss was possibly excuseable.Real, however, shown by dominating here that they would not put up with a fallow time like those endured by their rivals and have made great efforts to prevent them.Certainly, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema were also on the squad that triumphed at Anfield in 2014, but they put up a better performance this time around thanks to young players like Vinicius and Eduardo Camavinga.Liverpool may learn a lot from the way the Spanish juggernauts have successfully managed their team over the ages to maintain their position at the top for so long.

For the Reds, all eyes are on the top four

Liverpool can now focus their whole emphasis on earning a spot in this tournament again the following year, which may be the only positive to take away from this most discouraging of evenings for Liverpool.With recent victories against Everton and Newcastle United, Jurgen Klopp's team has given themselves an opportunity to make a late push for the Premier League top four. Nevertheless, it is very crucial that they keep up this momentum for two reasons.The first reason is that they have advanced to three Champions League finals under Klopp and are a strong bet to do well if they are in it. The second reason is that they need the resources and prestige of being in Europe's top tournament to fund a much-needed summer reconstruction.

Liverpool vs. Real Madrid highlights

A final score of Liverpool 5-2 Real Madrid

AT THE END of the game, both Anfield and this round of 16 match are finished.Such a remarkable recovery and completely dominate second half by Real Madrid, who will one again lose several games in this championship.

89th minute: Firmino attempts to handle a cross into the area in the 89th minute, but Real Madrid successfully clear the ball.You get the impression that Benzema would have scored if it had been him, and that would have made all the difference tonight.

81st minute: The Anfield audience is still attempting to support their team in the 81st minute, but Real Madrid has destroyed them at a supposedly difficult venue.Who will prevent them from taking home their 15th Champions League title this year?

73rd minute, Liverpool makes two further substitutions, switching Gomez and Henderson for Matip and Milner.

67 minute: At Anfield, Real Madrid is completely in charge!

After a fast move with Vinicius Jr., Benzema gets on the scoreboard. He shimmies to trick Alisson before calmly delivering the ball with his left foot into the top corner.

The tie must be broken at that point.

63rd minute: Liverpool makes two substitutions, replacing Nunez and Gakpo with Firmino and Jota.

61st minute: Nunez has an opportunity to send Gakpo in behind in the 61st minute, but he passes it up before being shut down by the Real Madrid defence.The visitors would have generated a chance from there, which made the difference tonight.

Goal! 55th minute: After falling behind by two after 14 minutes, Real Madrid is presently comfortably leading this match.

Benzema pokes a left-footed attempt goalward after a rapid exchange of passes on the outside of the Liverpool area, but it takes a significant deflection off Gomez before going in.

Goal at minute 47! :This game has been entirely flipped on its head by Real Madrid!The opposition is awarded a free kick on the left side of the box, though Joe Gomez will undoubtedly contest that it was a fair challenge.

46th minute: Liverpool regains possession of the ball and begins to attack the Kop to conclude this half.The referee blows the halftime whistle to signal the conclusion of a wild and exciting half of football.

45th minute: Alexander-Arnold stands over a free-kick at the outside of the box in the 45th minute, but he can only hit Courtois' gloves with it.A frantic Robertson lunge stops Rodrygo from scoring at the back stick as Real Madrid advance right up the other end, providing the ideal climax to this half.

41st minute: After the fourth goal in a fantastic half, both teams are still actively pursuing one another.

You have to admit that this game is a little less tense than when the two clubs faced off in the final the previous season.

Goal at minute 36! Another goal is scored after a goalie error!

31st minute: Alisson makes an outstanding stop to foil Vinicius Jr.'s attempt to replicate the feat.It was wise of the Brazilian to choose that one.

27th minute: As a result of Alaba's injury, Real Madrid are forced to substitute Nacho in the 27th minute.

25th minute, Henderson almost gives Liverpool their two-goal lead back after slipping underneath Real Madrid's defence to start a scramble in the goalmouth.

Goal at minute 21!

Real Madrid responds in a fantastic way! From the left side of the field, Vinicius Jr. appears to be fully surrounded, yet he manages to create enough space to unleash an unstoppable shot into the far corner beyond Alisson's helpless dive.

18th minute: Mohamed Salah is the competition's top scorer with eight goals so far this season in the Champions League.

Goal in the 14th minute! Liverpool is in front by two!Since the start of the game, players from both teams have been sliding, but this time it's a decisive one.

As Courtois loses his balance at the worst possible time while in possession of the ball and is ready to send it upfield, Salah is given the opportunity to score the simplest goal he will ever score.

14th minute: The ball is won by Nunez in his own half, and he then feeds Gakpo, who expertly drives through the Real Madrid middle to find Salah.The Egyptian then exploits a slight opening in the opposition defence to fire a shot, which barely misses the upright.

10th minute: Liverpool is on point in these early stages, pressuring the visitors into making a mistake after a mistake.Of course, this seasoned Real Madrid team is the best candidate to withstand an early storm and prevail in a European match.

4th Minute: GOAL! Nunez gives Liverpool the early advantage!

Salah picks out a wonderfully timed run from the right of the box, and the Uruguayan flicks it home through his legs from close range.

1st min: Real Madrid get the game under way.

5 minutes: before kickoff, the Champions League song is played to boos from the home crowd.A devastating assessment of the circumstances leading up to the game last week crystallised the genuine rage felt here over how supporters were handled before the final in Paris last season.

10 minutes from kickoff: With only 10 minutes till start, Anfield is buzzing with excitement.

Real Madrid are, of course, a team that is not easily rattled, but may the support from this home crowd tonight help Liverpool win?

30 minutes: Carlo Ancelotti on the difficulty Real Madrid has this evening: "Liverpool are one of the most difficult teams to play against." 30 minutes before kickoff. I have the utmost regard for them.

50 minutes: prior to kickoff, Cody Gakpo spoke with BT Sport on breaking his goalless start at Liverpool with two goals in his previous two games.

75 minutes from kickoff: What a night for the Spaniard with 75 minutes left before the game.

1.5 hours from kickoff: We are 1.5 hours away from kickoff, and neither team has revealed any major shocks. Liverpool will start with Darwin Nunez, who is healthy after missing Saturday's crucial victory at St. James' Park. Fede Valverde returns to the Real Madrid lineup in place of Toni Kroos, who is only well enough to sit on the bench. See the complete squads below.

2 hours from kickoff: Two hours before the game: Greetings and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of the Champions League round of 16 match between Liverpool and Real Madrid. In recent years, these two teams have gone up against one another in this competition very frequently, and the Spanish have won each and every time. Will the Reds snap their losing streak and put on another spectacular Anfield performance to ultimately defeat Carlo Ancelotti's team?