Steven Gerrard admits Liverpool must do plenty of "soul-searching" and has demanded Jurgen Klopp launch an inquest after they suffered one of their most chastening defeats of recent years at the hands of Real Madrid.
The Reds will exit the Champions League at the last-16 stage unless they pull off a miraculous victory at the Santiago Bernabeu after they were thrashed 5-2 at Anfield on Tuesday night. The hosts led 2-0 after 14 minutes but Los Blancos showed all their experience and European pedigree to rally and score five goals without response.
Liverpool came into the match after successive Premier League victories over Everton and Newcastle, so their early flurry against Real Madrid seemed to confirm they had turned a corner after what has been a poor season. But they were brought back to earth with a thud as their defensive woes were exposed brutally by the defending European champions in what Gerrard described as a "reality check" for Jurgen Klopp's men.
