Real Madrid produced a remarkable comeback in the Champions League, overturning a two-goal deficit to put themselves in a strong position to reach the quarter-finals. They achieved this by becoming the first visiting team ever to score five goals in a European game at Anfield.

Liverpool began the match well, with Mo Salah setting up Darwin Núńez for an acrobatic finish to open the scoring after just four minutes. Ten minutes later, Salah became Liverpool’s all-time leading European goal scorer after Thibaut Courtois committed a horrendous error, miscontrolling the ball in his own six-yard box and allowing the Egyptian to pounce and score his 42nd goal in continental competition for Liverpool.

However, Real Madrid responded brilliantly, with Vinícius Júnior producing a moment of individual brilliance to score a curling effort that reduced the deficit. He came close to scoring a similar goal shortly afterwards, but was denied by a great save from compatriot Alisson. Nonetheless, he scored a second goal in the first half when Alisson committed a second goalkeeping error, with a pass out from the back rebounding off Vinícius and looping into the net.

In the second half, Real Madrid completed their comeback, with Eder Militão scoring a header from a free-kick before Karim Benzema’s deflected effort put them in the lead. Benzema then scored a second goal after a quick break, with Vinícius providing the assist. This left Liverpool with a huge task in the second leg in Madrid.

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