Player Ratings: Liverpool 2-5 Real Madrid – 2022/23

Real Madrid run riot at Anfield, dishing out Liverpool’s biggest ever European home defeat on Tuesday with a 5-2 win in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah provided Liverpool with the perfect start. The Reds had a 2-0 lead after just 14 minutes. A first half double from Vinicius Junior brought Real Madrid level before half time.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men looked like a different animal after the break. A goal from Militao and a Benzema double made sure it was another historic night for the kings of the Champions League.

Player ratings:

Starting XI:

Thibaut Courtois: 4/10

Made a calamitous error that resulted in Liverpool’s second of the night. A very rare error from the great Belgian keeper.

Dani Carvajal: 8/10

Started the game horribly but grew into it after the first fifteen minutes. The Spaniard was excellent in both defence and attack for the rest of the game.

Eder Militao: 9/10

Real Madrid’s best defender for months now and that great form carried on tonight. The Brazilian made a number of incredibly important challenges and also the scored the go-ahead goal. Incredible player.

Antonio Rüdiger: 8/10

Rüdiger wasn’t as assured as Militao out there on the pitch but his no nonsense defending helped the team withstand the nonstop pressure from Liverpool in the first half.

David Alaba: 4/10

A tough night for the Austrian who had a torrid time against Salah and Trent. To make things worse for him, he also picked up an injury.

Fede Valverde: 8/10

A tireless performance from the Uruguayan who simply did not stop running. Fede was up and down the pitch all night and was key to his team’s resurgence in the second half.

Eduardo Camavinga: 8.5/10

Camavinga has been hugely influential since the World Cup break and tonight he showed he has what it takes to hack it on the biggest of stages. The Frenchman was exceptional, breaking down play and instigating attacks all night. What a talent.

Luka Modric: 9/10

Another big Champions League night, another Luka Modric masterclass. The Croatian pulled the strings for Real Madrid in the middle of the park and notched an assist for his wonderful delivery to Militao for Madrid’s third goal. Another standing ovation away from home.

Rodrygo Goes: 7/10

Started the game relatively quietly but greatly improved in the second half. The Brazilian wasn’t as influential as Karim or Vinicius but his work off the ball and speed on the counter-attack was crucial.

Karim Benzema: 10/10

Karim just makes it look too easy. The Frenchman was virtually nowhere to be seen in the first half but sprung into life in the second with a sensational display of football. The Frenchman assisted Vinicius for Madrid’s first goal before scoring two of his own after the break. The second goal was truly special.

Vinicius Jr: 10/10

A footballing masterclass from Madrid’s best player this season. The Brazilian was absolutely unstoppable down the left wing and caused Trent and Gomez all sorts of torment. Vini opened the scoring for Los Blancos with an incredible finish before levelling the score before the break. Special, special player.

Substitutions:

Nacho: 9/10 – Came on to replace the injured Alaba after thirty minutes. The Spaniard completely changed the game, locking down the left flank. Salah and co. had no joy whatsoever since his introduction.

Dani Ceballos: N/A – Came on to replace Rodrygo late on.

Toni Kroos: N/A – Came on to replace Modric for the final few minutes.

Marco Asensio: N/A – Came on to replace Benzema for the final few minutes.

Player Ratings: Liverpool 2-5 Real Madrid – 2022/23

Player ratings:

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