Real Madrid Player Ratings Against Liverpool: Karim Benzema & Vinicius Junior Shine Brightest At Anfield
Real Madrid scored five goals in an away game for the first time since October 2021 as they thrashed Liverpool at Anfield in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 encounter.
Early goals from Darwin Nunez and Mo Salah fired Liverpool into a 2-0 lead but Real hit back emphatically.
Vinicius Junior scored twice to level the game before half-time.
Eder Militao then completed the turnaround with his first ever Champions League goal for Real before a Karim Benzema brace made it 5-2.
Real Madrid beat Liverpool 5-2 at Anfield in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 clash
IMAGO/Propaganda Photo/David Rawcliffe
These two teams will meet again in the second leg in Madrid on March 15.
But before switching our attention to that match, we rated the performances of all 11 Real starters at Anfield.
Real Madrid Player Ratings Against Liverpool
Thibaut Courtois 4/10
Made two saves but gifted Liverpool a goal when he was tackled by Salah inside his own penalty area.
Dani Carvajal 5/10
Generally solid at right-back but lost Nunez for the opening goal. Also survived a penalty shout for a nudge on Nunez.
Antonio Rudiger 7/10
Did a job on Salah in the second half.
Eder Militao 8/10
Produced a goal-line clearance at one end and then scored at the other.
Eder Militao pictured (center) scoring a headed goal for Real Madrid against Liverpool
IMAGO/Action Plus/David Blunsden
David Alaba 4/10
Struggled against Salah before limping off with an injury in the 27th minute.
Eduardo Camavinga 8/10
Bossed midfield. Covered so much ground. His hard work gave Luka Modric the freedom to shine.
Federico Valverde 7/10
Grew into the game after a tough start. Is proving to be a very important player for Real this season.
Luka Modric 8/10
The 37-year-old rarely fails to deliver in the big games. He was applauded by Liverpool fans when he left the field in an 87th-minute substitution.
Rodrygo 7/10
Worked hard out of possession and impressed in flashes when he got on the ball. Assisted Benzema's first goal of the night.
Karim Benzema 9/10
Liverpool's defenders could not deal with Benzema's movement. The Frenchman's finish for his second goal was poetry in motion as he sat keeper Alisson down before dancing around him. Provided an assist for Vinicius too.
Vinicius Junior 9/10
Dragged Real back into the game with a brace after his team had made an awful start. Was fouled more times than any other player and won the free-kick that resulted in Militao's goal. Later set up Benzema for the final goal of the night.
Vinicius Junior pictured celebrating his first goal of the game
IMAGO/Sportimage/Andrew Yates
