Liverpool are sixth in the Premier League, three points off the top fourLiverpool’s Champions League campaign ended in disappointment as Real Madrid set up a semi-final meeting with Chelsea by keeping Jurgen Klopp’s side at bay in a goalless draw at Anfield.
Real arrived at Anfield protecting a 3-1 lead from the first leg and while they eventually went through in relative comfort Liverpool will curse themselves for missing several glorious first-half chances.
Mohamed Salah shot straight at Real keeper Thibaut Courtois, who also saved well from James Milner, in the opening moments and shot over when he should have hit the target while Georginio Wijnaldum was also guilty of squandering an opportunity to at least apply pressure to Zinedine Zidane’s side.
Real’s best chance saw Benzema drive in a shot that was deflected on to the post, while Courtois was in action again to block Roberto Firmino’s angled shot after the break.
Liverpool ran out of steam and ideas as the second half wore on, and Real defended with defiance and resilience to seal the win and set up a meeting with another Premier League side in Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea.
Best action and reaction from Liverpool v Real Madrid in the Champions LeagueListen to BBC Radio 5 Live’s Football Daily podcastLiverpool’s lack of cutting edge decisiveLiverpool were always fighting the odds as they trailed from the first leg but Klopp knew an early goal would have revived memories of previous Anfield comebacks in Europe – albeit they were in front of full houses rather than a deserted stadium.
And Liverpool have only themselves to blame because they certainly created those chances in the first half, the surprise being it was the normally reliable Salah who was guilty of two bad misses that could have rattled Real’s nerves.
Around 400 home fans gathered outside in an attempt to fashion some of the old atmosphere but sadly the only impact they made was to create more negative headlines with a disgraceful attack on the Real Madrid team coach that left the bus damaged. The Spanish giants received an apology from their opponents and Merseyside Police announced an investigation to find those responsible.
Mohamed Salah’s early miss was among multiple chances Liverpool were unable to takeLiverpool gave it everything for the 90 minutes but it was the lack of cutting edge that has characterised so many of their Anfield displays this season that removed any hopes they had of turning this tie around and proved their undoing.
As time went on, Real grew more confident and comfortable, and the introduction of the likes of Diogo Jota and Thiago Alcantara, who was disappointing, could not shift the tie the hosts’ way.
Klopp and his players must now lift themselves to chase a place in the Premier League’s top four to ensure they return to this competition next season.
Chelsea cannot underestimate RealThe latest incarnation of Real Madrid under Zinedine Zidane is hardly a vintage version. Indeed for large portions of this Champions League quarter-final second leg they were careless and scrappy.
However, they got the job done over two legs by showing their quality and threat at home then discipline and organisation at Anfield.
And this is the warning Chelsea must heed in the last four.
Real do not resemble their great predecessors but they still managed to overcome Liverpool – an injury-hit Liverpool it must be said – despite missing the twin defensive rocks Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane, who they will hope to have back against Chelsea.
And as Liverpool became increasingly desperate, so Real’s street-wisdom came to the fore to ensure a low-key and comfortable last 20 minutes with barely any serious alarms.
Chelsea will be well aware of the class of their former keeper Courtois, who excelled here, the enduring quality of Luka Modric and the battle-hardened, relentless striking ability of veteran Karim Benzema.
Thomas Tuchel has no reason to fear Real but they will command his full respect and Zidane’s trademark has been finding a way to win the Champions League.
Real Madrid dominant in Europe – the best of the statsLiverpool are winless in their past five games against Real Madrid in the Champions League (D1 L4).Real Madrid have qualified for the semi-finals of the European Cup/Champions League for the 30th time, at least 10 more than any other team. This was Liverpool’s ninth two-legged knockout tie in the Champions League under Jurgen Klopp, and only the second time they have failed to win either game in the tie (also versus Atletico Madrid in the last 16 in 2019-20).Real Madrid have progressed from 11 of their 12 two-legged knockout ties in the Champions League under Zinedine Zidane, with their only elimination coming against Manchester City in last season’s last 16.Liverpool have only won one of their past 11 games against Spanish opponents in the Champions League (D3 L7).This was Real Madrid’s first goalless draw in a Champions League game since April 2016, when they drew 0-0 against Manchester City in the semi-final first leg.Liverpool attempted 13 shots from inside the box against Real Madrid – their most in a Champions League game at Anfield without scoring since March 2006 v Benfica (20).’We rode the storm’ – what they saidLiverpool boss Jurgen Klopp talking to BT Sport: “You always need the key moments. We didn’t lose the tie tonight, we lost in Madrid. It was uncomfortable for Madrid. We were good, aggressive, had chances. We didn’t score and then the experience of Real Madrid played the tie down. That is ourselves this year with the finishing.
“We know how often Mo Salah finishes these things with closed eyes. Not here. Tonight it was absolutely OK, but we are out.
“We love this competition and for other reasons it is very important we are back in it. We can now concentrate on the Premier League and we will. We have to work our socks off.”
Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane: “We were up against it and we knew we had to suffer tonight, but in the end we got what we wanted, which was to go through. I think we handled the game well, we rode the storm and can be proud of our display.
“We knew they’d start fast and they were really good in the opening 15 minutes, but that’s normal. In the quarter-finals of the Champions League you have to dig in and we did that and got through.”
Player of the match
OdriozolaÁlvaro Odriozola
with an average of 7.04
LiverpoolSquad number7Player nameMilner
Squad number1Player nameAlisson
Squad number26Player nameRobertson
Squad number66Player nameAlexander-Arnold
Squad number47Player namePhillips
Squad number3Player nameFabinho
Squad number5Player nameWijnaldum
Squad number19Player nameKabak
Squad number11Player nameMohamed Salah
Squad number10Player nameMané
Squad number20Player nameDiogo Jota
Squad number9Player nameRoberto Firmino
Squad number6Player nameThiago Alcántara
Squad number23Player nameShaqiri
Squad number15Player nameOxlade-Chamberlain
Real MadridSquad number19Player nameOdriozola
Squad number10Player nameModric
Squad number22Player nameIsco
Squad number9Player nameBenzema
Squad number25Player nameRodrygo
Squad number1Player nameCourtois
Squad number6Player nameNacho
Squad number8Player nameKroos
Squad number14Player nameCasemiro
Squad number20Player nameVinícius Júnior
Squad number23Player nameMendy
Squad number3Player nameEder Militão
Squad number15Player nameValverde
Squad number11Player nameAsensio
Line-upsLiverpoolFormation 4-3-3
1Alisson
66Alexander-Arnold47Phillips19Kabak26Robertson
5Wijnaldum3Fabinho7Milner
11Salah9Firmino10Mané
1Alisson66Alexander-Arnold47PhillipsBooked at 59mins19KabakSubstituted forJotaat 60’minutes26RobertsonBooked at 25mins5Wijnaldum3Fabinho7MilnerSubstituted forThiago Alcántaraat 60’minutes11Salah9FirminoSubstituted forShaqiriat 82’minutes10ManéSubstituted forOxlade-Chamberlainat 82’minutesSubstitutes6Thiago Alcántara8Keita13Adrián15Oxlade-Chamberlain20Jota21Tsimikas23Shaqiri28Davies46R Williams53Davies64Cain65ClarksonReal MadridFormation 4-3-3
1Courtois
15Valverde3Militão6Nacho23Mendy
10Modric14Casemiro8Kroos
11Asensio9Benzema20Vinícius Júnior
1Courtois15Valverde3Militão6Nacho23Mendy10Modric14CasemiroBooked at 25mins8KroosSubstituted forOdriozolaat 72’minutes11AsensioSubstituted forIscoat 82’minutes9Benzema20Vinícius JúniorSubstituted forRodrygoat 72’minutesSubstitutes12Marcelo13Lunin19Odriozola22Isco24Mariano25Rodrygo26Altube28Akinlabi Park30Arribas32ChustLive TextMatch ends, Liverpool 0, Real Madrid 0.
Second Half ends, Liverpool 0, Real Madrid 0.
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Nacho.
Attempt saved. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Thiago.
Substitution, Real Madrid. Isco replaces Marco Asensio.
Substitution, Liverpool. Xherdan Shaqiri replaces Roberto Firmino.
Substitution, Liverpool. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replaces Sadio Mané.
Attempt missed. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Eder Militão with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Nathaniel Phillips.
Attempt missed. Nathaniel Phillips (Liverpool) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Andrew Robertson with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Marco Asensio.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Diogo Jota.
Attempt blocked. Marco Asensio (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Federico Valverde.
Substitution, Real Madrid. Rodrygo replaces Vinícius Júnior.
Substitution, Real Madrid. Álvaro Odriozola replaces Toni Kroos.
Foul by Fabinho (Liverpool).
Nacho (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Eder Militão.
Attempt blocked. Diogo Jota (Liverpool) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is blocked. Assisted by Andrew Robertson.
Attempt blocked. Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Andrew Robertson with a headed pass.
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