Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois believes Liverpool are ‘not the same team from last year’ with that 5-2 Champions League last-16 hammering at Anfield exposing the brittle nature of Jurgen Klopp’s side, speaking to Movistar.
This season alone, Liverpool have conceded three goals against Arsenal, Brentford, Wolves, Napoli, Manchester City and Brighton (twice).
A Real Madrid side containing the masterful Luka Modric, the prolific Vinicius Jr, Ballon D’Or winner Karim Benzema and the ultimate ‘big-game player’ in Rodrygo Goes, then, were always likely to find plenty of joy away from home to a Reds side who’s ongoing decline is as rapid as it is pronounced.
Just nine months ago, Real Madrid needed a world-class Courtois performance to defeat Liverpool in the Champions League final. Since then, the gap between these two sides appears to have widened to become a veritable chasm; Real making light work of their beleaguered opponents despite going 2-0 down inside 14 first-half minutes at Anfield.
Real Madrid hammer Liverpool in Champions League last-16
“Madrid will always be in the fight until the end,” says Courtois, who’s rare blunder gifted Mo Salah the hosts’ second goal before Vinicius and Benzema turned on the style. “I think that Liverpool is not the same team from last year, you have to be honest. They are more fragile at the back.
“Madrid will always be one of the favourites (to win the Champions League). We’ll see how far we’ll go.”
Perhaps the only downside, as far as Carlo Ancelotti is concerned, is that the ‘away goals rule’ is no longer in operation. Then again, it would still take a remontada of almost Istanbul-sized proportions if Liverpool are to overturn a three-goal deficit in the return leg on March 15th.
‘A horrific error’
“The truth is that it was a bit of bad luck screwing it up like that,” Courtois adds; explaining that most- uncharacteristic gaffe. “I controlled it well and at first, and I wanted to pass it.
“But I saw that Salah was standing still and I said; ‘Well, I’ll pass it to the right’. But it bounces off my knee (and into Salah’s path).”
On a night to forget for two of the planet’s finest goalkeepers, Alisson Becker committed a howler of his own at the other end. Thus, capping an evening of mistakes and misery for a once-great Liverpool side.
“I cannot believe what I’m seeing,” a gobsmacked Alan Shearer told the BBC. “In terms of the number of errors that are being made on the pitch. It was a horrific error from Thibaut Courtois earlier, and it is the same from Alisson.
“He is trying to play out from the back instead of clearing it when his side is leading. Goodness me Alisson, just clear it!”
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