Players of Liverpool looks dejected after Karim Benzema of Real Madrid ( not pictured ) scores their side's fourth goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 leg one match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid at Anfield on February 21, 2023 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Players of Liverpool looks dejected after Karim Benzema of Real Madrid ( not pictured ) scores their side's fourth goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 leg one match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid at Anfield on February 21, 2023 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Players of Liverpool looks dejected after Karim Benzema of Real Madrid ( not pictured ) scores their side's fourth goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 leg one match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid at Anfield on February 21, 2023 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Liverpool player ratings: one player gets 3/10 and lots of 4/10s in Real Madrid loss - gallery

Liverpool player ratings from the 5-2 loss against Real Madrid in the Champions League last-16 first leg.

Liverpool are on the verge of crashing out of the Champions League after suffering a chastening 5-2 loss to Real Madrid in the last-16 first leg at Anfield.

The Reds completely capitulated as they somehow went from being two goals ahead - via Darwin Nunez and Mo Salah - to not only suffering defeat but all but throwing the tie away.

Jurgen Klopp’s side will now travel to the Santiago Bernabeu where they’ll have to complete the latest European miracle in the club’s history if they’re to get through to the quarter-finals.

Liverpool made a dream start and took the lead in just the fourth minute when Salah’s cross was cutely finished by a Nunez backheel.

Then it got even better for the Reds as they doubled their advantage on 14 minutes. Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois’ miscontrolled allowed Salah to pounce and convert from close range.

But Madrid - who were the comeback kings on the road to winning the competition last season - would ensure they went into half-time level. Vinicius Jr reduced the arrears in the 21st minute when his curling shot nestled into the far corner.

There would then be a calamitous error from Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker when his attempted clearance bounced off Vinicius Jr, with the ricochet finding its way into the unguarded net.

And more shoddy work at the back led to the visitors taking the lead just two minutes into the second period to leave Liverpool shellshocked. Joe Gomez needlessly gave away a free-kick on the left-hand side of the Reds’ box and Luka Modric’s delivery was nodded home by the unmarked Eder Militao.

And things would get a lot worse for Liverpool as they would be compounded to more misery. On 55 minutes, a Karim Benzema shot deflected off Gomez and found its way past Alisson.

Then Benzema would add a fifth for Madrid in the 67th minute after Liverpool were cut apart yet again.

Heading into the second leg, the away-goal rule means that Klopp’s troops will have to win by four clear goals.

Here’s how we rated the Liverpool players.