Liverpool 'bottle' 2-0 lead at Anfield in Champions League, Real Madrid CRUSHED them 5-2 in epic comeback

Real Madrid produced a sensational comeback against Liverpool in the Champions League after going 2-0 down at Anfield in the opening 20 minutes.

Darwin Nunez fired Liverpool into the lead on Tuesday evening inside five minutes after beating Thibaut Courtois from close range with a fancy flick finish.

Mohamed Salah then doubled Liverpool’s advantage in the 14th minute after pouncing on a ‘Loris Karius-esque’ howler from Madrid No 1 Courtois.

However, Madrid fought back before half-time and pulled one back through Vinicius Jr, whose sensational curling strike beat Brazil teammate Alisson.

Alisson then suffered his own Courtois howler moment after he kicked the ball off Vinicius’ leg, which ricocheted off before landing in the back of the Liverpool net.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men took the lead early in the second half after Luka Modric whipped the ball in from a free-kick and Eder Militao fired in a superb header.

Liverpool’s collapse continued after the break as Karim Benzema played a one-two with Rodrygo from the edge of the box before the Frenchman fired in a shot.

Benzema’s strike took a big deflection off Liverpool defender Joe Gomez, with Alisson left helpless after already diving and watching the ball roll over his legs.

THAT IS SILKY! 🤯

Karim Benzema is the coolest man on the planet 🥶

What a goal! 💥#UCL pic.twitter.com/FFLHjcpMxU

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 21, 2023

WHAT A FIRST HALF THIS HAS BEEN 🤯

It's Alisson who has now made the mistake for Vinícius Júnior to pounce! #UCL pic.twitter.com/4H1tnBKy2z

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 21, 2023

Madrid’s steamrolling of Liverpool in a superb second-half performance saw Modric expertly break through the Reds’ midfield before playing through Vinicius.

Vinicius then squared the ball to Benzema and the Madrid skipper rounded Alisson before burying the ball past about three Liverpool players in front of the net.

“Another pathetic Liverpool bottle job vs Real [Madrid]. Fantastic,” one fan wrote on social media.

Another Twitter user said: “How did Liverpool bottle this so bad?”

A third fan posted: “Haha, Liverpool what! How do they bottle a 2-0 lead? What the hell?”

While a fourth tweeted: “As a neutral, this is a cracking match. Liverpool [are] bottle jobs. LOL.”

And one fan commented: “Waited my entire life to see a Liverpool bottle at Anfield in Europe. Beautiful.”

READ MORE:

• Darwin Nunez’s reaction to kid revealing Man United top after they posed for photo is priceless
• Liverpool fans set off fireworks outside Real Madrid’s hotel at 2am ahead of Champions League clash
• Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard ‘on shortlist’ to become new PSG boss