Real Madrid vs Liverpool LIVE: Result and reaction as Reds crash out of Champions League

One way or another, it always ends with Madrid for Liverpool. Four of their last five Champions League campaigns have finished against Real, Atletico, Real and Real. In the year they didn’t face a club from the Spanish capital, they won the competition.

So, in the most unpredictable of seasons for Liverpool, this was the most predictable of exits. Not merely because Vinicius Junior is becoming Trent Alexander-Arnold’s tormentor or because Karim Benzema maintained his status as Liverpool’s nemesis with his statutory goal against them or because in the least vindictive of ways, Carlo Ancelotti continues to exact his amiable brand of revenge for Istanbul. But, primarily, because Real Madrid won 5-2 at Anfield. A 1-0 triumph in Spain took the overall score to 6-2, Liverpool’s biggest aggregate defeat in Europe since they faced Spartak Moscow three decades ago.

A second leg felt a formality. Which, as Liverpool required arguably the greatest result in their history, was unsurprising. They had overturned a three-goal deficit against a Spanish superpower in the Champions League before, but it was Barcelona, at Anfield, in 2019, when the team was at the peak of its powers. There was no 2023 version of Gini Wijnaldum or Divock Origi, no one etching his name into history, just a team toiling, an attack misfiring in front of goal, a keeper making a defiant effort that still did not spare them a 13^th defeat of the campaign.

Different manner, same result, and enough to at least leave Jurgen Klopp wondering what is going on here. Real Madrid have ended Liverpool’s chances of winning the Champions League for the third successive season. On this occasion, though, the wonder wasn’t how you beat them but how you even score against them. Liverpool couldn’t get anywhere close to a comeback because they so struggled to get forward, leaving Karim Benzema to pick them off for a 1-0 that made it 6-2 on aggregate.

A large part of that was admittedly down to an injury crisis in midfield, which made it a bad - or perhaps inevitable - night for Madrid to show how imperious they are in that area. Far from this being a team that could be ageing, in transition or just vulnerable, the European champions look a more complete team than last season. A lot of that might have to do with the fact they can call themselves European champions. It is as if it has given young stars like Vinicius Junior and Eduardo Camavinga the conviction to go to another level, while Luka Modric and Benzema stay at the standard of last season.

That makes an immensely formidable side, and one that can’t quite be considered upstart revelations in all those twists of history en route to Paris. They might even be the best left in the competition, if that doesn’t sound odd for a team that hold the trophy.

Different manner, same result, and enough to at least leave Jurgen Klopp wondering what is going on here. Real Madrid have ended Liverpool’s chances of winning the Champions League for the third successive season. On this occasion, though, the wonder wasn’t how you beat them but how you even score against them. Liverpool couldn’t get anywhere close to a comeback because they so struggled to get forward, leaving Karim Benzema to pick them off for a 1-0 that made it 6-2 on aggregate.

A large part of that was admittedly down to an injury crisis in midfield, which made it a bad - or perhaps inevitable - night for Madrid to show how imperious they are in that area. Far from this being a team that could be ageing, in transition or just vulnerable, the European champions look a more complete team than last season. A lot of that might have to do with the fact they can call themselves European champions. It is as if it has given young stars like Vinicius Junior and Eduardo Camavinga the conviction to go to another level, while Luka Modric and Benzema stay at the standard of last season.

That makes an immensely formidable side, and one that can’t quite be considered upstart revelations in all those twists of history en route to Paris. They might even be the best left in the competition, if that doesn’t sound odd for a team that hold the trophy.

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool record in the Champions League:

2017-18: Lost to Real Madrid in the final

Won in 2018-19: Beat Tottenham in the final

2019-20: Lost to Atletico Madrid in the last 16

2020-21: Lost to Real Madrid in the quarter-finals

2021-22: Lost to Real Madrid in the final

2022-23: Lost to Real Madrid in the last 16

The Champions League quarter-finalists are now known.

Inter Milan, AC Milan, and Napoli all go through from Italy whilst Bayern Munich are Germany’s only team to make it through.

Benfica are Portgual’s remaining hope whilst England have Manchester City and Chelsea in the last eight.

They’re all going to have to get past Spain’s Real Madrid though who look likely to regain their title.

Karim Benzema scores the only goal of the night and Real Madrid look hungry to add another Champions League title to their trophy cabinet.

Liverpool are out, Jurgen Klopp’s only goal remains to finish in the top four of the Premier League.

90+4 mins: No penalty! The referee is called over to the monitor but decides that the incident doesn’t call for a penalty. Rightly so.

The full-time whistle is then blown and Liverpool are knocked out of the Champions League. The European champions, Real Madrid, march on.

90+2 mins: There’s a VAR check against Liverpool substitute Kostas Tsimikas who is hit on the arm inside the Liverpool box after a deflection off his own thigh.