LIVERPOOL: Real Madrid earned their first-ever win over Liverpool with a wondrous Cristiano Ronaldo goal spearheading a 3-0 Champions League victory at Anfield today which appeared as classy as it was dominant.
The roar of one of Europe’s most vociferous crowds was muted when Ronaldo, combining with James Rodriguez, scored the most brilliant of openers in the 23rd minute, his 70th Champions League goal moving him within one of Raul’s all-time record.
Poor Liverpool defending then contributed to Karim Benzema striking twice more for the champions before halftime and left the hosts to try to overturn a three-goal deficit in the Champions League for the first time since the 2005 final.
Carlo Ancelotti, who was in charge of the AC Milan side which threw away that lead in Istanbul, was not about to let history repeat itself in this group B encounter as his men consolidated to win their third consecutive Champions League game and emphatically put an end to Liverpool’s three-game, 100 per cent winning record over them.
Madrid top the group with nine points, while Liverpool, Basel and Ludogorets are all six points adrift.
The closest Liverpool came to clawing their way back into the game was just before halftime when Philippe Coutinho struck a thunderous 20-metre shot against the post with Madrid keeper Iker Casillas well-beaten.
Liverpool looked a little more threatening after the break, once Mario Balotelli, again a grievous disappointment, had been replaced by Adam Lallana.
As the teams went down the tunnel at halftime, Balotelli swapped shirts with Pepe, a gesture which will doubtless not have been greatly appreciated by the home fans at such a stage in the game.
Late goals by Kieran Gibbs and Lukas Podolski handed Arsenal a dramatic 2-1 win away to Anderlecht in their Champions League clash in Brussels on Wednesday evening.
An Andy Najar header in the 71st minute looked set to give the Belgian champions a rare European victory at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium until Gibbs volleyed in a Calum Chambers cross with a minute left.
Substitute Podolski then struck a minute into injury time to seal all three points, to the great relief of Gunners’ manager Arsene Wenger on his 65th birthday.
After a run of just two wins in nine games in all competitions, it looked set to be another evening to forget for Wenger, but the Frenchman can breathe a sigh of relief thanks to a result that leaves the Premier League club in a strong position in Group D.
Arsenal sit three points behind leaders Borussia Dortmund, who were convincing 4-0 winners away to Galatasaray in the night’s other game, but are five clear of the sides below them and well on course for a place in the last 16 with the reverse fixture with Anderlecht to come next.
Besnik Hasi’s side, in contrast, were left deflated after suffering a sixth consecutive home defeat in the group stage, falling moments short of a first victory over English opposition since beating Manchester United 2-1 at the same venue almost exactly 14 years ago. (Reuters)