The Champions League never disappoints. Ever.
Liverpool looked to be flying to an emphatic victory but were well and truly Real Madrid-ed as Carlo Ancelotti's men secured a whopping 5-2 victory in one of the most entertaining games you're ever likely to watch.
The fun started after just a few minutes as Darwin Nunez's audacious little flick found the back of the net.
Darwin.
— Michael McI (@MichaelMcIvor6) February 21, 2023
That’s filthy big stuff. Absolutely filthy
Darwin haters can hold that
— 𝔸𝕝𝕖𝕩 🇮🇪 (depressed Liverpool fan) (@AlexFtbl) February 21, 2023
Darwin Nunez just cooked us lmfao we're finished
— THE PRODIGAL SON HAS RETURNED LAKERS(27-32) (@BanksSZN) February 21, 2023
I'm old enough to remember when Darwin Nuñez couldn't finish.
— Jeff Erickson (@Jeff_Erickson) February 21, 2023
my thoughts on Darwin since he joined pic.twitter.com/KQzUiJKrOW
— Michael Franchetti (@Franchettiboy) February 21, 2023
The action picked up just a few minutes later, but not how you'd expect.
Thibaut Courtois forgot how to use his legs and gifted the ball right to Mohamed Salah, who gleefully poked the ball into an empty net to take advantage of a rare error from the Real Madrid stopper.
Hahahah Courtois that is unacceptable
— John Lee (@_junghyun_) February 21, 2023
Courtois with a Karius against Liverpool LOL.
— Allen (@anxious_ladka_) February 21, 2023
even salah felt awkward celebrating I'm crying
— naya (@nxtesmj) February 21, 2023
Courtois 😂😂😂 I hate him so that was good to see, the punk
— Big Sam. (@sammy__tee) February 21, 2023
Courtois watching Salah score the second goal #LIVRMA pic.twitter.com/lBq3TuScbw
— Tom (@txmcity) February 21, 2023
A glorious strike by Vinicius Junior followed soon after, with Real's comeback getting started in stupendous fashion.
VINI WHAT DID YOU DO
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) February 21, 2023
Unreal goal , Vini already better than Prime Ronaldo
— Leelansh Verma (@moderatelulli) February 21, 2023
My worddd Vini 😍😍😍
— Monique 🌻 (@_MoniqueL) February 21, 2023
That finish by Vini 👏🏿 pic.twitter.com/Rp0Fg9a90e
— Huge (@Huge1412) February 21, 2023
And just as Courtois' error was starting to fade from memory, Alisson went and committed his own howler.
Liverpool's stopper fluffed a clearance and passed the ball right at Vinicius, who couldn't believe his luck as the rebound trickled over the line.
Courtois and Alisson this match pic.twitter.com/M4reqopxlh
— 𝗷𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗲 (@jesuisjt) February 21, 2023
Alisson does that specific thing way too often of passing back into the danger area that he was given it from. and i don’t get why he does it
— 🙏 (@thewoke4ive) February 21, 2023
He walked, so Courtois and Alisson could run… respect legend pic.twitter.com/stdkDlXnLm
— Éire Gooner 🇮🇪 (@eire_gooner) February 21, 2023
Liverpool scored early in the first half but the roles were reversed after the break as Real Madrid took the lead just two minutes into the second 45.
Eder Militao stooped low to head home from a free-kick, setting the tone for a dominant half of football.
Wow. Militao with the missile of a header
— palmwine_papi (@M_acHitect) February 21, 2023
Perfectly worked free kick by Modric to Militao for a 2-3 Real Madrid lead pic.twitter.com/TaK2IQBfVE
— Sirajum (@sirajum_afc) February 21, 2023
MILITAO 2-3 COMEBACK COMPLETED
— Dino ✪ (@DINO21R) February 21, 2023
Karim Benzema then added a fourth, poking a tame effort into the unfortunate Joe Gomez and watching on as Alisson couldn't react in time.
Benzema ghosts the entire game then scores a lucky deflected goal his aura is unmatched
— MUFC Bible (@mufc_bible) February 21, 2023
Centre backs turning away from shots 😢 Benzema didn’t even hit that one hard
— Stephen Doyle (@dubsoulrebel) February 21, 2023
Hey @LFC, there’s a match going on and you’re involved in it. Not sure if you know.
— Zito (@_Zeets) February 21, 2023
Gomez felt Benzema's wrath for that goal, and then it was Virgil van Dijk's turn.
The Dutchman looked nothing close to his former self as Vinicius drove towards him and slipped through Benzema, who sat Alisson down once again before keeping his composure to slot home a fifth.
van dijk doesn't even have aura anymore he just exists
— - (@h0yeon_) February 21, 2023
Van Dijk trying to stop Madrid with his aura pic.twitter.com/gKMSjtGWNc
— Luc Gray (@iamlucgray) February 21, 2023
Least Van Dijk looked cool whilst conceding yet another goal 👍
— Gilly Clarke (@GillyClarke25) February 21, 2023
Safe to say, it was a bad day at the office for Liverpool.
Klopp and Liverpool fans from 2 - 0 pic.twitter.com/xggcEXQHnd
— Busani Mtalana (@Busani_MtalanaM) February 21, 2023vs Real Madrid pic.twitter.com/7ddxH1kgwa
— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) February 21, 2023