UEFA Champions League
Last 16 2nd Leg (5-0 on aggregate)
Tue 10th March 2009 @ 7:45pm
Anfield
If we take a mini step back in time, the talk before the tie was by just how many goals would Real Madrid thrash Liverpool by? The media were fawning over Real Madrid's best run of results for 27 years, and the Spanish media and the club's players, manager and officials couldn't wait to deliver their two part demolition of Liverpool.
And even before this game, the Spanish national newspapers led with the headline (in Spanish of course) 'This is Anfield: So What?'
Now they know exactly 'what'.
So despite the hopes of the media, despite the ridiculous statements uttered by the minority Rafa-bashing contingent, Liverpool delivered another European masterclass. Another big name now fallen by the wayside as Liverpool, for the umpteenth time, demolish one of the continent's biggest sides.
The reds were boosted by the return of Torres and Arbeloa who had been doubts for the clash. Benayoun, one of the heroes of the first leg, unfortunately missed out with injury.
But back to the game and the first noticeable change at Anfield was the atmosphere. I've said before that the crowd have been as guilty as the players at Anfield this season for putting in poor performances at home in the Premiership. Tonight, whilst by no means reaching the dizzy heights of the 2004/5 campaign, was a step forward in terms of 'support'.
Back to the game and the reds flew out the traps. The passing was as slick as it has been all season long, and the movement and pace confounded Real Madrid's superstars. Iker Casillas was the man of the match according to Benitez, and within the first 10 minutes the reds could have had 4 goals. Torres was tearing the Madrid defence apart and Javier Mascherano struck two venomous strikes on goal.
Liverpool haven't been known for their first half goals this season, so against Europe's most decorated club they decided to hit them twice in the first half.
The first goal came from a powerful reds break, Kuyt neatly cutting back the ball for Torres to send the reds on their way.
Before the half hour the reds lead had doubled. When the cross from Aurelio came in deep the best reaction Gabriel Heinze could do to stop Kuyt's advance was to throw his arm at the ball. No question - penalty kick, and Gerrard dispatched it with pleasure.
What would the second half bring? Liverpool taking it easy and protecting their 3-0 aggregate lead? No chance. The reds have been on the right side of one of those 3-0 reverses before, so the reds lashed a couple more past Madrid to leave them thoroughly embarrassed.
Two minutes in to the second half, Ryan Babel delivered a terrific left wing cross in which Steven Gerrard put away with a shot of pure quality.
Liverpool took the opportunity to remove the likes of Gerrard and Torres to standing ovations, and amongst the substitutes Jay Spearing came on and put in a fantastic cameo appearance. His name was sang loud and proud by the Anfield faithful and he could nearly have netted a dream goal had Torres crossed instead of shot late on.
With two minutes left on the clock another fine Liverpool move enabled Andrea Dossena, a forlorn Anfield figure, to help himself to his first Liverpool goal.
The whistle was blown early to avoid any further humiliation for Real Madrid.
The draw for the quarter-finals and semi-finals will be made on Friday. Guess which team 7 other clubs will be hoping to avoid?
Video Highlights
Teams
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Skrtel, Carragher, Aurelio, Alonso (Lucas 60), Mascherano, Kuyt, Gerrard (Spearing 74), Babel, Torres (Dossena 83).
Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Hyypia, Ngog, Kelly.
Booked: Gerrard, Mascherano, Dossena.
Goals: Torres 16, Gerrard 28 pen, 47, Dossena 88.
Real Madrid: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro (Van der Vaart 64), Pepe, Heinze, Robben (Marcelo 46), Lassana Diarra, Gago (Guti 77), Sneijder, Raul, Higuain.
Subs Not Used: Dudek, Saviola, Metzelder, Miguel Torres.
Booked: Pepe, Heinze, Marcelo.
Att: 42,550
Ref: Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium).
WOW… that’s all i can say… BEWARE MAN U !!!
I think there must have been something wrong with my telly, it looked like Dossena scored.
I have written on here a few times (no I`m not one of the negative boo boys) but it has usually been after a disappointing result trying to find the positives, don`t have to do that this time, so on to the negatives…….erm……wellll…… No none, Well done lads Now lets Fu{< the mancs
Robbie Keane?
too happy to say anything
Now that was brilliant by the lads who tore Real Madrid to shreds stuffing Aryen Robben’s prediction down his throat!.As i’ve said before that our team is capable of playing a much more offensive game if Rafa releases the shackles and lets the boys express themselves.
Its a mystery why we’re unable to perform like that more often in the league.Nevermind all that for now instead enjoy this victory and look forward to the draw where i would like to be paired with Villareal.We can win this for the sixth time.
Ha ha i’d like to see all these negative ba****ds try to bang on about negative, defensive football about this game! This was without question the best performance all season. It wasn’t a penalty to be fair but we could easily have been at least 3 goals up by then if it wasnt for Casillas, even with that penalty you have to say the final scoreline didn’t even slightly flatter us. Even if we can’t win the league title this season, which looks unlikey now, the champions league isn’t a bad second prize! I’d be happy with that now.
The owners have to give Rafa his contract now because Real Madrid are likely to be after him in the summer when Juande Ramos’ contract ends, especially after this game.
Now all we can do is sit back and hope that Inter do us a favour tonight by sapping as much energy out of Man U players as possible, and beating them would be nice!
COME ON YOU MIGHTY REDS
Penalty or no penalty we had this!! Man United has tu get a feel of dis we can do this..Keep hope alive
@Kev – “To all those people the post on here criticising Rafa, his team selection, his ‘negative’ tactics” – for the first time for ages the team we started with was our strongest – was a shame that we have a few injuries but if thats what it takes then so be it.
The atmosphere was electric and hope it stays like this for the rest of season as we have been as much to blame for the lack-lustre performances.
What a high though. It was awesome to see us simply destroy one of Europes top teams – with ease. Who could of ever imagined that we could rest Stevie, Torres and Xabi and give Spearing a run out – he looks a real up and comer – all positives last night. Wicked.
What a great night for the reds. Totally blew Real to shreds, definitely best performance of the season from us. Torres, Gerrard, Masch all fantastic. Just wish we could play like that every week. Europe is our legend and we’re gonna make it a hat trick in Rome along with our other two European Cups there 😀
One thing I must say though, that was never a penalty, which I’m sure if it was given the other way, you wouldn’t be saying ”no question”. Nonetheless it was a scoreline that didn’t flatter to deceive and in truth could have been so much more if it weren’t for Casillas. Bring on the mancs!!! YNWA
That is my Liverpool!
To all those people the post on here criticising Rafa, his team selection, his ‘negative’ tactics and suggest we can’t beat the ‘creme de la creme’. Well it doesn’t come much bigger than Real Madrid and not only did we beat them, we hammered them. The score could have been embarrasing if it hadn’t been for Casillas.
In that form we can beat anyone, including Man Utd at Old Trafford on Saturday. That’s not a prediction, just a statement of my confidence in Rafa and the team. I’ve always beleived our strongest 11 is as good as anyone in world football and with a manager that has one of the best tactical braisn in the game we’ve many reasons to be very optimistic. The league has eluded us because these days football is a squad game, and we don’t quite have the squad of Man Utd. This is largely because Utd have more resources. Hopefully this can change once the ownership dispute is sorted and maybe we can knock Fergie of his f*****g perch.
just wonder what team will show up on saturday after the first leg against real we went down 2-0 to boro. hope they can beat utd and make things interesting in the league. come on reds lets see more attacking football its better than the 1-1 draws
Could the videos of the four goals be posted on this website?
Thank you.
GO THE REDS!!!
Wouldn’t say the penalty was justified to be fair, it looked as though it his Heinze’s shoulder – and even then the ball was only a foot or so away from him when it was struck.
But still, 4-0 against the nine-times European Champions is an absolutely fantastic result. I hope Fergie is sitting up and taking notice for Saturday. It’s going to be a loonngg day for him.