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Real Madrid took a major step towards the semi-finals of the Champions League with a 3-1 first leg win over Liverpool at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano.
Vinicius Junior was Liverpool’s chief tormentor, punishing basic errors from a visiting side that employed a high line without any pressure on the ball and seemed to lack the basic organization required to repel the pace of the Madrid frontline. After the Brazilian ghosted in behind to net a first in the 27th minute, Trent Alexander-Arnold miscued a clearing header to allow Marco Asensio to creep in behind, lobbing Alisson and tapping into an empty net.
For a time early in the second half Liverpool looked like being a force in the contest and Mohamed Salah’s thundering strike in off the crossbar gives them something to cling on to ahead of next Wednesday’s second leg even if a second goal for Vinicius means it will require an almighty effort at Anfield if Jurgen Klopp’s side are to qualify for the last four.
Toni Kroos could scarcely have dreamed of a more ideal approach from an opponent in what seemed certain to be a serious test of Real’s quality under pressure. Yet Liverpool’s customary intensity without the ball was nowhere to be seen whilst at the same time Ozan Kabak and Nathaniel Phillips maintained an extremely high defensive line.
Without sufficient recovery pace and with Kroos and Luka Modric given time to look up, pick a pass, check their phone, write a few tweets and have a think about what they’d do for dinner tomorrow it was a recipe for disaster. The former in particular was devastating with his deliveries over the top, none more so than one he dropped on Vinicius’ chest for the opening goal. The young Brazilian still had plenty of work to do but his first touch was perfect, his finish quick enough that Alisson Becker was caught in no man’s land between his line and the ball.
THAT BALL FROM KROOS.
THE CONTROL AND FINISH FROM VINICIUS. π₯ pic.twitter.com/3dP0yrD1n6
Even after Asensio’s goal Liverpool seemed incapable of learning their lesson and were lucky to end up with only three conceded, Trent Alexander-Arnold not quite making up for his error even as he killed a counter attack in the 64th minute. The visitors simply would not learn and sat off Madrid in the following passage of play, allowing Modric to slip the ball into Vinicius as the hosts netted a third.
For all that the tie seems over, Liverpool under Klopp have overcome worse, a 3-0 first leg deficit to Barcelona being overturned in front of a raucous Anfield in the 2019 semi-finals. They will not have a packed Kop on their side next Wednesday but they will have an away goal in their back pocket after Diogo Jota teed up Salah to rifle the ball in off the crossbar, capping off what was arguably the only impressive period of play the visitors mustered in Madrid.
Klopp was far from impressed.” If you want to play in a semi-finals you have to earn the right to do so, we didn’t do that tonight especially in the first half. The only good thing I can say about the game apart from we scored the goal is it’s only the first half. We just didn’t play good enough football.”
Mo Salah gets a huge away goal π₯ pic.twitter.com/Vo6BnplGh6
Klopp was at pains to point out the issue was not so much the mistakes Liverpool made for the goals β “those are mistakes that can happen” β but the lapses in possession and failure to craft much in the first half in particular, which saw him withdraw Naby Keita before the interval and introduce Thiago.
“It’s a big story and I don’t like it anymore,” said Klopp. “He was not the only oneβ¦ It was tactical but I could have done a few more changes in that moment.”
Introducing Thiago worked, offering Liverpool a greater ability to control things in the final third, but begged the question why Klopp so swiftly broke up the team that had ripped a poor Arsenal to shreds on Saturday. If the Reds are to overcome a two goal deficit next week they will need to keep Madrid pinned in their half and Thiago will be crucial in doing that.
You can recap our live updates, analysis and highlights below.
Phil Fodenβs last-minute winner gives Man City a slight advantage heading into the second leg. π₯. @Heineken_US pic.twitter.com/m1vyJXaUtr
The story of the 2020 @NWSL Challenge Cup starts now on @CBSSportsNet π«
πβ¨ WHAT a # UCL night at the Di StΓ©fano!
π°π½οΈ Re-live @vinijr‘s brace, @marcoasensio10‘s flying form and more π#HalaMadrid
Real Madrid beat Liverpool 3-1 so @jennyachiu @oeste and @nigerianscamsss react to the 90 minutes of football πΆhttps://t.co/DfoWJxz4BA pic.twitter.com/2NvXlL3MDr
π§€ποΈ @thibautcourtois: βWeβre very pleased with our performance. Liverpool are a great side but we defended very well.” #UCL pic.twitter.com/siwreIHw0U
π£οΈ @marcoasensio10 : “Iβm very happy for another goal and for the win. It was an important match for us. We are very happy but this isnβt over, we still have the second leg. It was a great night and it gives us a lot of confidence.”#UCL pic.twitter.com/TArooZnjmU
A brace from Vinicius Junior paved the way for Real Madrid as they beat Liverpool. π«
π£οΈ @Lucasvazquez91: “We went out very motivated from the first minute, with clear ideas, knowing what we were playing for and how to play for it.” pic.twitter.com/kviZEJxE6w
π π π©iniπ£ π@vinijr | #UCL pic.twitter.com/6kmuBJSc6R
Despite @micahrichards and @carra23 going back and forth, it’s all love in the studio.
Right @alexscott? π pic.twitter.com/brEliPYprG
ποΈ Zidane: “Itβs a fair result, I am happy for the players because they put in in an incredible effort.” pic.twitter.com/lEtgogzobf
4β£ goals in 4β£ for @marcoasensio10!
π₯ #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/8bjCibACVI
JΓΌrgen Klopp acknowledged that #LFC‘s performance was ‘not good enough to get a better result’ at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano. #RMALIV | #UCL
All eyes are on Erling Haaland. Our own @julesbreach speaks to Pep Guardiola about the talented striker π pic.twitter.com/Bu4Bj2gvrj
βοΈ Let’s talk about that @ToniKroos pass, madridistas… π₯ You know which one. pic.twitter.com/frAu2EWqnt
Sheβs back! @kate_abdo flawlessly translating Zidaneβs interview. pic.twitter.com/UuqsvFOjww
When @alexscott came to play for the Boston Breakers in the @NWSL she was able to relearn her game. Now she breaks down Trent Arnold Alexander π pic.twitter.com/6lxODKgbeC
β½οΈππ€³ @vinijr: Hello madridistas, I’m very happy to have been chosen as the best player of the match and happy for the team’s performance! Thanks so much, we still have 90 minutes left. Hala Madrid!#HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/oN5Vso75jS
Was it a foul or not π€@Carra23 and @micahrichards go back and forth on the referee’s decision against Jude Bellingham and Dortmund. πΆπΆπΆ pic.twitter.com/wEmzp26J7t
ποΈ #UCL shots ποΈ#HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/fZpNQx2nWi
Our two #UCL-winning defenders @alexscott and @carra23 give a lesson in defending, even in professional gear. π« pic.twitter.com/f55oWrTuQl
Sergio Ramos is injured but itβs still #MENSWEAR hours pic.twitter.com/ZCT66aZX1k
π₯ @marcoasensio10 is _____________________ pic.twitter.com/T4rTjkdkbj
π₯ VINI, VIDI, VICI! π₯@vinijr | #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/MUrF60mj9a
What a photo. πΈ pic.twitter.com/51pg1IIawS
π₯ HALA MADRID! π₯#UCL pic.twitter.com/AhLcTHIZQi
Erling Haaland and Phil Foden share a moment. π pic.twitter.com/juz41wLA7G
π THIS TEAM!#HALAMADRID pic.twitter.com/edwVuHU3WM
π FT: @realmadriden 3-1 @LFC
β½ @vinijr 27′, 65′, @marcoasensio10 36′; Salah 51′#Emirates | #UCL pic.twitter.com/qCrqKT0EWL
Defeat in the first leg. #RMALIV | #UCL
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