Liverpool have found themselves on the receiving end of a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Real Madrid in their Champions League Group B clash at Anfield.
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Cristiano Ronaldo had the first concrete chance of the game in the eighth minute when he found space on the left flank and weaved past Glen Johnson, before cutting inside onto his right foot and firing straight at Simon Mignolet from 20 yards.
Just three minutes later, however, Liverpool countered through Steven Gerrard, who launched a dipping shot from 30 yards that forced a parrying save from Iker Casillas.
The European champions were able to break the deadlock in the 23rd minute when James Rodriguez played a stylish chipped pass into the path of Ronaldo, who took the ball on the bounce and lashed past Mignolet into the Liverpool goal.
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Only seven minutes would elapse before Real doubled their lead, Toni Kroos floating a ball into the box which allowed Karim Benzema to head home from a tight angle.
With just five minutes left in the half, Madrid added another goal when a defensive mishap by the hosts led to the ball falling to the feet of Benzema, who prodded home with little effort.
Liverpool, desperate to get something from the game come the start of the second half, controlled the ball well in the early stages, but soon Madrid were bearing down on goal again, Rodriguez cutting inside and blasting an effort high and wide.
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Just after the hour, Dejan Lovren misjudged a pass to Martin Skrtel at the back, which allowed Ronaldo to seize the ball, but Mignolet was able to stop the Portuguese's stinging close-range effort.
Two minutes later, Isco and Benzema combined to set up Ronaldo, but despite finding himself with only Mignolet to beat, a reflex save from the Liverpool goalkeeper's foot kept Real from tallying up another goal.
The game continued to provide high-quality action as the Reds, undeterred by the scoreline, sought to put the visitors to the sword.
Raheem Sterling forced a save out Casillas in the 70th minute with a curling shot that fell kindly to the Spain stopper, while moments later, Lazar Markovic made the wrong choice when close to goal by passing to an offside player rather than going for goal.
Ultimately, Liverpool were unable to pull a goal back, and so the game finished with a comprehensive victory for the Spanish giants.
Giuseppe Labellarte
