Liverpool slapped with sharp lesson, says Rodgers

Reds suffer 3-0 Champions League defeat at the hands of supreme Real


Afp October 23, 2014

LIVERPOOL: Brendan Rodgers conceded Liverpool had been taught a lesson after Real Madrid swept to an imperious 3-0 victory that left his side in severe danger of Champions League elimination.

Rodgers' team were powerless to prevent the holders from cementing their position on top of Group B with a ruthless demolition job at Anfield late Wednesday.

Carlo Ancelotti's side were out of sight by half-time after Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 23rd minute and then Karim Benzema netted twice in quick succession to punish dreadful Liverpool defending.

It was a chastening defeat for Liverpool, who desperately needed a positive result to keep their bid to reach the last 16 in their own hands.

"They [Real] were outstanding,” said Rodgers. “They've got many players with big-game experience and quality right through the group.

"The first goal knocked us back a bit and we conceded two poor goals very quickly.”

To make matters worse, Rodgers has found himself embroiled in a series of problems with his key players.

Mario Balotelli angered the Reds boss with the latest in a growing list of lacklustre displays and then compounded the problem by swapping shirts with Real's Pepe before being hauled off at half-time.

Rodgers plans to take action against the eccentric Italy striker, who has scored only once in 10 appearances.

Meanwhile, after savouring the sweet taste of their 10th European Cup crown last season, Ancelotti says Real are in the mood for an 11th.

"Maybe it's too soon to talk about a cycle of success,” said Ancelotti. “But we enjoyed what happened last season and we are fighting hard to repeat that.”

Wenger thanks Podolski for late birthday gift

Arsene Wenger heaped praise on Lukas Podolski after the German international came off the bench to seal a 2-1 win in a remarkable finish to Arsenal's Champions League clash with Anderlecht on Wednesday.

On the day he turned 65, Wenger was forced to gamble after his team went 1-0 down at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium in Brussels through an Andy Najar goal in the 71st minute.

The Frenchman looked to the bench and one of his changes was to replace midfielder Jack Wilshere with forward Podolski six minutes from time.

Left-back Kieran Gibbs volleyed in an equaliser in the 89th minute to spare the blushes, but Podolski came up with the winner in injury time to give Arsenal an unlikely win at the end of a disappointing display.

"We know Podolski can always score you a goal,” said Wenger of his World Cup-winning forward, who has struggled with fitness problems of late. “He’s frustrated and I can understand that, but he is important.”

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid moved a step closer to qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League with a comfortable 5-0 win over Malmo, and Borussia Dortmund brushed off their miserable Bundesliga campaign to demolish Galatasaray 4-0.

 

Results

Atletico               5-0          Malmo

Olympiakos        1-0          Juventus

Liverpool            0-3          Real

Razgd                 1-0          Basel

Leverkusen         2-0          Zenit

Monaco              0-0          Benfica

Galatasaray       0-4          Dortmund

Anderlecht          1-2          Arsenal

 

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