Liverpool were officially knocked out of the Champions League in Spain as Real Madrid won 1-0 on the night to make it 6-2 on aggregate.
The goal came from Karim Benzema who added more misery to Liverpool’s campaign with a tap-in after the interval.
It is the fourth time in the last five years that Jurgen Klopp’s side have been knocked out of the competition by Los Blancos.
2017/18
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2020/21
2021/22
2022/23
Real Madrid are Liverpool's #UCL nemesis… pic.twitter.com/hoBljwDvLm
Klopp changed the system and went with four attackers as his side had to at least score three goals to have any hope of getting through to the quarter-finals.
Cody Gakpo more or less went into the midfield role with Diogo Jota through the middle and Darwin Nunez and Mo Salah either side of him.
Liverpool struggled to get a foothold in the game as the defending European Champions passed through them with ease and if it wasn’t for two world class saves from Alisson it would have been another embarrassing evening for The Reds.
Nunez and Gakpo forced Thibaut Courtois into action with two good saves but they were both speculative efforts with any hope of Liverpool pulling off a miraculous comeback quickly evaporating.
In the second half Liverpool looked even more lethargic and their biggest threat, Nunez, was taken off before the hour mark.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side eventually got their goal with 12 minutes to go and it was mess at the back for Liverpool as Vinicius Junior wasn’t tracked with the ball falling to Benzema who had a tap-in.
You Never Walk Alone was played at the end of the game out of respect from Real Madrid but it would have definitely felt slightly patronising as Liverpool were swept aside with ease by the side they were competing with in the final of this competition last season.
Klopp now has over two weeks to get his side ready for a mammoth task of facing Manchester City away from home as they now look to scrape top four.
