Here is your Liverpool morning digest for Wednesday, February 22.
Jamie Carragher sends brutal Virgil van Dijk message after Liverpool 'disgrace'
Jamie Carragher has delivered a brutal verdict on Liverpool’s defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League.
The Reds lost 5-2 at Anfield in their last-16 first leg on Tuesday night. It leaves Jurgen Klopp’s side with a mountain to climb going into the reverse fixture in the Spanish capital on March 15.
Liverpool went 2-0 up thanks to goals from Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah. But Madrid got back into the game before half-time with a brace from Vinicius Jr.
PLAYER RATINGS: Liverpool player ratings as Joe Gomez and two others awful in Real Madrid humbling
READ MORE: Liverpool fans send clear message to UEFA during Champions League anthem
Eder Militao then scored after the break to put Madrid in front, before Karim Benzema bagged two goals to almost take the tie away from Liverpool. It’s the first time that the Reds have conceded five goals at Anfield in the Champions League era.
“First of all, I must say what a performance by Real Madrid, to come to Anfield and do that,” Carragher told CBS Sports.
“I’ve never seen a team come to Anfield on a European night that I can remember, that I’ve seen or was involved in, perform like that, and destroy Liverpool like that.
“That was shambolic from Liverpool. Embarrassing.
“We’ve made excuses for them all season, the reasons why they ‘re not doing as well as in previous seasons.
“That was a disgrace that second half. To not even have a chance themselves, show any real fight after the goals go in.
“And to lose that second half 3-0, they were attacking the Kop [and] it was 2-2 in a knockout game. Absolutely shambolic from Liverpool.
“What I’m talking about in terms of shambolic, I’m talking about defensively shambolic all season.”
READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
Steven Gerrard makes brutal Liverpool claim after Real Madrid 'domination'
Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard believes his old side suffered a 'reality check' in their drubbing at the hands of Real Madrid.
Despite getting off to the perfect start at Anfield, Jurgen Klopp’s side were left red faced as Real ran riot. Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah fired Liverpool into a 2-0 lead inside the opening 15 minutes.
However, braces from Vinicius Jnr and Karim Benzema plus a Eder Militao header turned the tie on its head. And Gerrard, speaking post-match, believes there is going to be a lot of soul-searching inside the Liverpool dressing room following the defeat.
He said: “I think it’s a reality check. Got off to the perfect start, exactly what you need on a European night - start fast, get yourself in front, build on it.
“They went two nil up, but from that moment Real Madrid came back into it, scored quite quick - fantastic goal. From then Liverpool were dominated and outclassed for large periods.
"Look, I think any team, any club, if you concede five goals there’s got to be an inquest into why and how.
“I’m sure Jurgen will do that in the coming days, I think everyone will be a little bit raw on the back of that defeat - Liverpool don’t concede five goals here at Anfield, and if they do it’s very rare.
“There’s gonna be a little bit of soul-searching, a little bit of looking in the mirror, sure, there always is when you concede that many goals. It weren’t good enough.”
READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
READ NEXT:
- Liverpool fans react to Thibaut Courtois and Alisson Becker mistakes in Champions League
- Mohamed Salah becomes Liverpool's all-time leading goalscorer in Europe after overtaking Steven Gerrard
- Why Sir Kenny Dalglish placed wreath in front of Real Madrid fans before Liverpool tie
- Steven Gerrard linked with sensational return to management with Paris Saint-Germain
- BT Sport and Jake Humphrey apologise to Liverpool for coverage of chaos in Paris
