Your morning Liverpool headlines for Wednesday, February 22.
Luka Modric sends classy six-word message to Liverpool fans after Anfield ovation
Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric has hailed Anfield's atmosphere as 'special' after receiving a standing ovation on Tuesday night.
The 37-year-old was instrumental in Carlo Ancelotti's side recovering from a two-goal deficit on Merseyside as both Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez struck past Thibaut Courtois inside 14 minutes.
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However, Los Blancos hit back emphatically with five goals of their own as Vincius Jr, Eder Militao and Karim Benzema capitalised on shoddy Liverpool defending to leave Jurgen Klopp's side facing an enormous task ahead of next month's visit to the Santiago Bernabeu.
While Viniciuis Jr and Eduardo Camavinga both impressed for the Spaniards, it was Real's old guard of Modric and Benzema that lapped up the plaudits for their displays at Anfield.
And despite toying with the inexperienced Stefan Bajcetic, Fabinho and Jordan Henderson all night long as Real supporters packed into the Anfield Road End started a rendition of 'Oles', the Croatia international received a raucous standing ovation alongside Benzema when he was substituted in the 87th minute.
Taking to Twitter after the game, the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder thanked those inside the stadium for the incredible recognition: Thank you Anfield. Special atmosphere. Respect."
Read the full story, here.
'I don't think so' - Alan Shearer makes Stefan Bajcetic point that sums up huge Liverpool problem
Alan Shearer has taken aim at Liverpool's defence following their chastening 5-2 defeat at home to Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Despite racing into a two-goal lead, the reigning European champions fought back with no reply from the Reds as Los Blancos inflicted an unwanted piece of history at Anfield. A double each for Vinicius Jr and Karim Benzema now leaves a mountain to climb for Jurgen Klopp's side ahead of their trip to the Spanish capital in three weeks.
The Premier League all-time leading goalscorer has pinpointed Liverpool's structure with Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk and Fabinho coming under the crosshairs following the collapse.
"Because they were hopeless at the back," he said reflecting on what went wrong at Anfield on Tuesday to BBC 5Live. "I was concerned before the game when I said to you about the Newcastle game, was it that they were 2-0 up against 10 men, they just switched off and they were looking forward to this game because Newcastle did create a lot of chances against them particularly from set-pieces.
"Now as it turns out, it wasn't, it was because they're not very good at the back. They don't have the protection that they used to have and when you allow a defender who has come up from a set-piece, a free header from five yards out with no one near him so soon after half-time, when your goalkeeper makes a mistake as he did, when Gomez doesn't get tight to Vinicius Jr for the first goal," he added.
Read the full story, here.
READ NEXT
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- 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
