LONDON: Liverpool’s 4-0 thrashing of Real Madrid received the widespread praise it richly deserved yesterday, the positive reaction to their Champions League win coming in stark contrast to the criticism of their opponents.
Already leading 1-0 from the first-leg, Liverpool sent Real crashing to their heaviest defeat in the Champions League era with The Times declaring it “a result that will resonate through Europe and go down in the modern history of both clubs”.
The Merseysiders eased into the quarter-finals on Tuesday with two goals from a dominant Steven Gerrard, making his 100th European appearance, and one apiece from Spaniard Fernando Torres and substitute Andrea Dossena.
The Daily Mail said Liverpool simply “pulverised” Real.
“There is no other word for it,” wrote columnist Martin Samuel.
The Independent added: “This was Liverpool playing like European royalty, delivering a four-goal cuffing to Real Madrid, their biggest defeat in the Champions League.
“This was European football’s most successful club humiliated, eliminated, eviscerated. A rout.”
Spanish newspapers were also unanimous in their praise for Liverpool and in their condemnation of Real’s woeful performance, noting that the English side had taught the nine-time champions a lesson in how to play in Europe.
English newspapers were equally astonished at the way Real played with the Daily Mirror reporting: “The Spaniards were simply atrocious, an imitation of the giants who have swaggered majestically through the history of this competition.
“But they were reduced to that level because of the brilliance of Liverpool.” — Reuters
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