Isn’t it kind of funny that these two teams had a 1-0 result only six months ago. Real Madrid and their 5-2 destruction over Liverpool have shown how far apart these two 2022 Champions League Finalists have grown since the Final.
I know that Real Madrid is having a substandard season by their lofty expectations, but you can’t tell me that there’s no difference between how Liverpool and Madrid’s, respective, seasons have gone.
From being a goal (the Champions League Final) and 5 minutes away (last game of the Premier League season) from a historic Quadruple six months ago, this Liverpool side has fallen so far from excellence that they are now getting beat 5-2 AT ANFIELD by Real Madrid, even though they started 2-0 up in the game.
Reversely, after a poor start to the season that saw them fall behind 8 points in the league to Barcelona, Real Madrid have now just put in their best performance of the season to date and have key matches against Barcelona, Real Bettis, and Atletico Madrid to recover what was previously thought to be a lost season.
Could you have more polar opposite seasons between last season’s two best European teams?
This loss really should be the nail in the coffin of this Liverpool side as they just couldn’t compete with practically the same Real Madrid side they lost to by a single goal less than half a year ago.
The Reds midfield and defense is simply broken and needs to be completely overhauled as seven years under Jurgen Klopp’s pressing system has completely eroded them to the point they no longer even resemble a past Champions League and Premier League winning side.
I mean, some of those Real goals were solely down to the Liverpool players either making boneheaded mistakes, being in the wrong position, or were just too slow to keep up with the Madrid players.
On Karim Benzema’s fantastic strike for Madrid’s 5th goal, a 37-year-old Luka Modric was able to race from one end of the pitch to the other by outrunning Jordan Henderson (31), Fabinho (29), and Stefan Bajcetic (19) before passing the ball off to the 34-year-old Benzema.
Sure, you can argue that Benzema and Modric are all-time greats and it’s no surprise they embarrassed less-skilled players, but the individual talent of the Liverpool side was never what made them one of the Top-3 greatest teams in Europea for the last 5 years. It was their ability to press other teams off the field and never give up an inch of space and momentum, which was sorely lacking in the midfield as Fabinho and Henderson are past their best and Bajcetic is too young.
Anyways, another massive issue that Madrid’s forwards, such as Vini Jr., Benzema, and Rodrygo, were able to capitalize on was how poor Liverpool’s defense has turned into.
This is now the third or fourth time that Joe Gomez has been found out in a European game this season (let alone in all competitions), Trent Alexander-Arnold can’t defend against speedy, skillful wingers (which Vini Jr. most definitely is), and Virgil Van Dijk has regressed into a shell of his former self.
Aside from the first brilliant link-up goal that Vinicius scored, every single one of Real Madrid’s strikes can be attributed to a Liverpool player either making a poor decision or being in the wrong position.
Alisson literally shot the ball off Vini Jr. for Madrid’s second goal, Joe Gomez gave up a stupid free kick that led to Eder Militão’s goal (Madrid’s 3rd goal), Gomez cowered away from Benzema’s shot and caused it to deflect off him into the net for Madrid’s 4th, and you know how the 5th goal was scored.
Now, I’m not trying to take anything away from Real Madrid’s performance as they were utterly sublime in capitalizing on each Liverpool error, but it’s impossible to say that Liverpool didn’t help out Madrid’s cause with how they played.
Simply put, this Liverpool team needs to be rebuilt in 5-7 spots on the pitch, while the Madrid side has somehow overcome the effects of age (Modric: 37, Benzema: 34, Toni Kroos: 33, Nacho: 33, Thibaut Courtois: 30) and the loss of key players (Casemiro) to still be one of the world’s best sides.
So, I think it’s obvious that Madrid will defeat Liverpool in the Santigo Bernabéu in the 2nd leg to advance to the Quarterfinals, but will the reigning champions progress further than that? Most likely as this side has finally found its groove in just the right time of the season.
As for Liverpool, it’s time to call it a season.
Their Champions League hopes have now been dashed, they’re already out of both the domestic cups, and they currently sit 8th in the Premier League. Spending a year in the Europa League and rebuilding the squad might be the best for all parties involved…if they all stay together, that is.
The Jurgen Klopp 7-year curse is a thing for a reason, right?
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