Liverpool

Liverpool player ratings vs Real Madrid: Alisson & Joe Gomez horror-shows condemn Reds to record-breaking defeat

James Hunsley
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Alisson Liverpool 2022-23
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The Reds are staring Champions League elimination in the face after they were put to the sword by the defending European champions

Liverpool threw away a two-goal advantage thanks to individual errors from Alisson and Joe Gomez as Real Madrid cruised to a comfortable 5-2 victory at Anfield in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

An audacious Darwin Nunez flick and Mohamed Salah strike following Thibaut Courtois' error had given the home side a 2-0 lead early on.

But Alisson responded with a glaring mistake of his own as Madrid showed their European pedigree and turned the tide against a debilitated Liverpool side.

Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema each scored a brace while Eder Militao also grabbed a goal as Gomez in particular endured a night to forget.

The result was Liverpool's worst European defeat on home soil and leaves Jurgen Klopp's side a near impossible task when they travel to Santiago Bernabeu in three weeks' time.

After a rollercoaster night that went from the sublime to the ridiculous and back again, GOAL rates Liverpool's players from Anfield...

Editors' Picks

  1. Goalkeeper & Defence
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    Goalkeeper & Defence

    Alisson (4/10):

    Could do nothing about four of the five goals, but was solely responsible for Vinicius' equaliser, arguably the turning point in the game.

    Trent Alexander-Arnold (7/10):

    The shining light in a dark, dark day for Liverpool's back line. Looked a constant threat going forward, but his sublime passes needed a finishing touch.

    Joe Gomez (3/10):

    A game to forget. Easily beaten for Madrid's first, sold Alisson short for their second, gave a needless free-kick away for the third and deflected home the fourth. Struggled all night.

    Virgil van Dijk (5/10):

    No glaring errors like his centre-back partner but still far from his dominant self. Ran ragged by Benzema for his two goals.

    Andrew Robertson (6/10):

    Started brightly and provided a match-saving clearance at 2-2, although that didn't count for much in the end.

  2. Midfield

    Jordan Henderson (5/10):

    Outrun in midfield despite a dominant opening 20 minutes. Unable to deal with the brilliance of Modric and Valverde.

    Fabinho (4/10):

    See above. Always looked vulnerable in transition, gave the ball away for Madrid's fifth.

    Stefan Bajcetic (5/10):

    Offered something different to his midfield partners but give the ball away too many times. Maybe struggled with the big occasion.

  4. Attack
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    Attack

    Mohamed Salah (7/10):

    Pin-point assist for Nunez's opener and pounced on Courtois' glaring error, but faded as the game wore on.

    Cody Gakpo (6/10):

    Brimming with confidence at the beginning of the game but more or less disappeared after 20 minutes. Brought off for Firmino on 64 minutes.

    Darwin Nunez (8/10):

    Scored a brilliant goal and showed tenacity in defence and attack all game. Unfortunate not to have been awarded a penalty, even more so to be brought off early alongside Gakpo.

  5. Subs & Manager

    Roberto Firmino (4/10):

    Replaced Gakpo but failed to offer much going forward. Should have scored from Alexander-Arnold's corner.

    Diogo Jota (4/10):

    Came on for the electric Nunez and weakened Liverpool's attack as a result.

    Joel Matip (6/10):

    Put Gomez out of his misery on 73 minutes. Only defender not to concede on the night.

    James Milner (6/10):

    Got a 20-minute run out alongside Matip. Nothing of note to report.

    Harvey Elliot (N/A):

    Only introduced for the final five minutes.

    Jugen Klopp (5/10):

    Saw his side completely capitulate from a position of control. Unable to do anything about the individual errors, but his subs weakened a Liverpool side who had all but given up by the end.