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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Dom Smith

Liverpool at the ‘end of an era’ and must sell players, says Thierry Henry after Real Madrid thumping

Thierry Henry says Liverpool are at the “end of an era” following last night’s Champions League demolition at the hands of Real Madrid.

Liverpool were two up inside 14 minutes of their last-16 first-leg tie at Anfield, only for Real Madrid to hit five without reply in yet another reminder of their European pedigree. Both Vinicius Jr and Karim Benzema scored twice, with Eder Militao heading home a rare goal.

Speaking on CBS Sports’ coverage, former Arsenal striker Henry said of Liverpool: “They conceded too many goals against Brentford, Wolves and Brighton — let alone before you play a team like Real Madrid.

“I wanted to know where they were and I saw a fragile team. More than fragile. Why? They were 2-0 up. That’s exactly the start you would like to have against a Madrid team or any team in Europe at Anfield, and they couldn’t even keep that.

“They are fragile and some things need to change. I don’t think Jurgen Klopp needs to go but some players don’t have the level anymore to play for Liverpool. It happens to the best; it happened to me. It’s the end of an era.”

Henry, who scored nine goals in 18 matches against Liverpool during his spell with the Gunners, felt the Reds were comfortably second-best on the night.

He continued: “I’m not having a go at Liverpool, [but] they are not playing well, they are conceding a lot. We all love what they have done recently. It’s a tough one — they are conceding five at home and getting outplayed.

“When I see a guy like Luka Modric at his age [37] getting the ball and bursting forward in midfield like they were not there, and passing the ball to Vinicius, and Vinicius passing the ball to Benzema and him toying with the keeper, I just think that is not good enough. That team gave us so much.

“But right now they are not good, so they need to reinvent themselves and keep their head up until the end of the season.”

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