Liverpool belted 5-2 by Real Madrid in stunning second-half collapse

Modric and Benzema were terrific, and Vinicius Junior even better as Real Madrid came from 2-0 down to win 5-2. Liverpool had never lost a European first leg at home to a team from the Continent. They had only ever lost to Leeds United in 1971 and Chelsea in 2009. It was a painful, humiliating evening riddled with mistakes and unwanted records.

Liverpool were so open out of possession, and Vinicius flew through, Modric glided through and Benzema charged through. Real were so impressive out of possession, flooding the centre with the wingers, Vinicius and Rodrygo, tucking in, leaving Benzema up front. Eduardo Camavinga shone as the anchoring midfielder. Liverpool kept making mistakes, Real kept scoring.

Barring a miracle at the Bernabeu, Liverpool’s season now revolves around making up the seven points to fourth place in the Premier League and getting back in Europe’s elite competition (they do have two games in hand).

Leading 2-0 within 15 minutes, Liverpool had trailed 4-2 within ten minutes of the second half, 5-2 just after the hour. Liverpool’s storm blew itself out – or was really snuffed out by the brilliance of Vinicius.

Real are European and world champions. They have the ageless Modric scheming in midfield, Benzema a focal point up front and, especially, Vinicius cutting in off the left. They have the experienced, composed winner Carlo Ancelotti in the dugout. Real were always going to respond.

Liverpool had emotion fuelling them. Real had nous and calm and Vinicius. Liverpool’s defence was picked open relentlessly, mistakes gifting Real even more chances. Both sides were set up in a 4-3-3 but Real always seemed to have an extra player.

In this memorable, remarkable tenth European Cup meeting between these famous sides, Real were initially caught out by the ferocity of Liverpool’s play. There had been an energy and a hunger to Liverpool early on, and from their fans long before the start: from the meeting of the team bus, the flares and banners in the air; the powerful rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone; and to the toxic reception to all things Uefa before kick-off.

Liverpool fans emphatically made their point about the organisational shambles and near-tragedy at the Champions League final in Paris in May. “F*** Uefa,” they chanted.

“Uefa Liars,” read one banner on the Kop. Another had the same message, helpfully in French – “Menteurs”. “Useless Eejits Fail Again.” The Champions League anthem was booed, Zadok the Priest defrocked and Uefa then derided.

For 15 minutes, Liverpool took their anger out on Real. Within four minutes they were ahead. The attack was started in the centre circle by Stefan Bajcetic, showing such maturity at 18 years and 122 days, becoming the youngest player to start a Champions League game for Liverpool. Bajcetic played the ball right to Jordan Henderson, who was enjoying a landmark moment of his own by moving alongside Phil Neal on 74 appearances in Europe, entering Liverpool’s top ten. Henderson found Mohamed Salah, who swept in a cross towards the six-yard area. As Liverpool fans rose in anticipation, Darwin Nunez darted ahead of Eder Militao, and flicked the ball elegantly with his right heel past Thibaut Courtois.

Liverpool were rampant, fuelled even more by their fans’ emotion. Cody Gakpo escaped the grappling attentions of Camavinga, Salah darted past David Alaba but shot wide.

Eleven minutes later Gakpo’s heavy first touch presented the ball to Dani Carvajal, Real’s right back. Carvajal played the ball back to Courtois, such an accomplished goalkeeper, man of the match in Paris, worthy recipient of the Yashin Trophy by the Ballon d’Or panel. Carvajal’s back-pass should have been meat and drink.

Courtois controlled the ball on his chest, but it dropped on to his knee; he went right to try to retrieve the situation but the ball spun left, invitingly for Salah, who stabbed it in with his left foot. It was a historic moment for Salah, who became Liverpool’s greatest goalscorer in Europe, passing Steven Gerrard’s 41.

Liverpool fans almost did not know whether to cheer Salah or cackle at Courtois. They acclaimed Salah, then mocked Courtois’ subsequent attempts to clear. But Real are Real, 14-times winners of this grand prize, and so aware that La Liga may be beyond them, given Barcelona’s lead. So they fought back, inevitably through Vinicius.

The Brazil star moved threateningly inside after 20 minutes, briefly lent possession to Benzema before driving the ball between the stretching Joe Gomez and Fabinho and past Alisson. Liverpool were stunned.

They had appeared in control, but Real’s journey to the final last year had demonstrated their resilience, their powerful response to pressure.

There was enough action in the first half for a full game. Carvajal cleared off the line from Nunez, and the Uruguay forward then showed his team-mindedness by racing back to stop Vinicius’s cross reaching Carvajal at the back post.

Back came Vinicius again, causing Liverpool more pain, just as he did in Paris. Alisson threw himself to his left, stretched out his left hand and kept another Vinicius shot out, but then suffered a howler that was even worse than Courtois’.

Gomez showed his pace in dealing with Vinicius, playing the ball back to Alisson. Vinicius continued his run, even though it was clear that Alisson was going to reach it way before him. Alisson had time to measure his kick but the Brazil goalkeeper struck it straight at Vinicius, who was already turning away. To the horror of the Kop, the ball caught Vinicius’s foot and bounced in a mocking loop into the Liverpool net: 2-2.

The dressing room should have been a haven for Liverpool at the break, a chance to regroup, but Vinicius simply tore into them again after the restart, flying past Trent Alexander-Arnold, then fouled by Gomez. Modric drove in the free kick, and Militao had the freedom of Anfield as he arrived unmarked from the far post, partly helped by Nunez’s hesitancy, to head past Alisson.

Real were unstoppable. Vinicius and Benzema traded passes as they progressed regally into the Liverpool penalty area before Benzema’s shot clipped Gomez and wrong-footed Alisson. There were still 24 minutes remaining when Real made it 5-2.

Modric glided away from Bajcetic, then Vinicius squared to Benzema, who deceived Alisson with a dummy before driving the ball home.

Nacho got away from Alexander-Arnold, who pushed him just as he was about to enter the Liverpool penalty area. It could have been even worse for Liverpool. It could have been a tennis score.

Originally published as Liverpool belted 5-2 by Real Madrid in stunning second-half collapse