Liverpool succumb to the reigning European champions Real Madrid on Tuesday night as the Reds suffered more disappointment to the hands of Los Blancos in the Champions League.
Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah fired Jurgen Klopp's side into a two-goal lead inside 15 minutes as the hosts raced out of the traps. The Uruguay international cooly backheeled past a despairing Thibaut Courtois before the Belgian was left reeling as his miscontrol gifted a second.
The tide looked to be turning in the latest edition of Liverpool versus Real Madrid but Carlo Ancelotti's side turned out the style as Vinicius Jr fired past his compatriot before levelling the scoring after Alisson's clearance cannoned off him.
LFC RATINGS: Joe Gomez and two others awful in Real Madrid humbling
READ MORE: 'There’s got to be' - Steven Gerrard makes brutal Liverpool claim
There was plenty of Spanish outlets who were in attendance as the record holders of the Champions League took an impressive stride towards their 15th honour.
Mundo Deportivo - 'Confirmed: Vinicius is Liverpool's nightmare'
"Real Madrid's powerful reaction at Anfield began with a key goal, one of the most beautiful of Brazilian Vinícius Junior's career, and the subsequent prize for his faith in pressing the rival goalkeeper, his compatriot Alisson, to sign a brace that makes Liverpool their favorite victim: five goals in four games.
"Of Vinícius's 14 goals in 41 Champions League games, three times came in braces, twice against Liverpool. The Brazilian has taken the measure of the English team and in a temple like Anfield, where he had not scored, he left an exhibition that will be remembered.
"The same as in their first duel against Liverpool, in an Alfredo di Stéfano stadium without fans due to the pandemic, in the quarterfinals of the 2020/21 season. It was his first great European night with his double. It preceded his debut at Anfield, empty, and without success on a clear occasion.
"'Vini' began to be a player feared by the 'Reds' in Paris, making the firm aware of the victory in the final of the last edition of the Champions League. And he once again shone with his own light when Real Madrid needed him most at Anfield, to silence at times a spectacular atmosphere in the stands."
AS - 'Football has no memory, but Ancelotti has plenty'
"Before the match, Dalglish and Carragher (sic) [correction: Billy Hogan], two legends of different sizes, placed a bouquet of flowers next to the fund that was occupied by the Madrid fans.
"A respectful tribute to a missing genius, Amancio. The tribute to football came later between two teams that had already been there for decades, at the top, when the emirs discovered this vein to promote countries or empires.
"It was a bare-chested duel, without a second of calm, that left a memorable performance for Madrid, which lost 2-0 before the first quarter of an hour and which later left a rout that will be remembered for decades. Vinicius started and the rest followed suit admirably. It is already known: the Champions League anthem sounds and the team levitates.
"Football has no memory, but Ancelotti has plenty. Beyond his point of form, he believes the players who bring back good memories (and better titles) are essential, more at the foot of the big events.
"That's why he put Kroos on a plane on his way to Liverpool. Having him by his side on the bench, still convalescing from gastroenteritis, comforted him. And that's why he put Rodrygo, who is ahead of Ceballos in the line of succession, on the right wing. Of the three points on the attack front, it is the one that costs him the most."
MARCA - 'Ancelotti knows things rivals have not learned yet'
"The current European champion passed through Anfield to pay tribute to Brujo Amancio , who up there must have enjoyed the mischief of Vinicius, another dribbling genius like him.
"By the way, he sent a double message; to his competitors, warning them that he is still hungry for more and more glory; and to the betting houses, which do not teach lessons and before the game they placed Real Madrid as the fourth favorite for the title with a pyrrhic 8% chance, the same rank they granted to Liverpool, far behind Manchester City (33%), and at a distance from Bayern and PSG.
"To claim due respect, he left a historic win in a field as mythical as Anfield, which he knew how to honor this sport and its values with an emotional tribute to Amancio in particular before the game and to Madrid in general afterwards, dismissing him with applause. Honour to Liverpool and its fans.
"Any team that after 20 minutes finds itself 2-0 down against the runner-up in Europe, with the psychological blow of conceding the second goal due to a resounding error from what is its greatest defensive bastion like Courtois and with the stands at Anfield roaring seems destined to capitulate inevitably.
"Madrid no. Madrid in Europe is of another paste. Manage decisive springs. He knows things that his rivals have not yet learned. This is the only way to explain that in half an hour they would have turned the marker around."
SPORT - 'Liverpool ended up collapsing because of their calamitous defensive performance'
"Real Madrid overcame a dismal start at Anfield and left their qualification for the Champions League quarterfinals well on track with a resounding 5-2 victory against a Liverpool team that started with great impetus but ended up collapsing because of their calamitous defensive performance.
"Vinicius and Benzema, with two goals each, and Militao put the Madrid team in an ideal situation to face the second game at the Bernabéu. The white reaction allowed Courtois to redeem himself after a serious mistake that allowed Salah to score 2-0. Then Vinicius came to the rescue of his team with two goals that turned the game around.
"What happened in the first half exposed the defences of both teams. Real Madrid's initial shivering resulted in a great backheel goal from Darwin Núñez as soon as the match began and a second goal from Salah that exposed what some consider to be the best goalkeeper in the world, Thibaut Courtois.
"The Belgian did not know how to control a difficult loan from Carvajal and gave the Egyptian striker the ball. Liverpool struck from the start, taking advantage of the inexperience that the white defence exhibited in these first minutes."
READ NEXT
- Liverpool player ratings as Joe Gomez and two others awful in Real Madrid humbling
- Real Madrid have just exposed Liverpool's greatest Champions League concern
- Karim Benzema reveals what Liverpool fans did to unleash the 'true Real Madrid'
- Jamie Carragher sends brutal Virgil van Dijk message after Liverpool 'disgrace'
- Steven Gerrard makes brutal Liverpool claim
