The two goals hero, Steven
Gerrard.
Liverpool clinically disposed of Real Madrid, 4-0 on the night
and 5-0 on aggregate at Anfield.
Liverpool had not the best of records against Spanish opposition
in Europe but that was all forgotten in an exhilarating opening 45
minutes.
Real Madrid, nine times winners of Europe's Premier competition,
were made to look ordinary as the Reds ran them ragged.
In a torrid opening seven minutes for the visitors, Fernando
Torres, Javier Mascherano and Steven Gerrard were all denied by
Madrid keeper Casillas.
Quicker to the ball and incisive in their passing, Liverpool
tore into the visitors from the start.
The inevitable opening goal arrived on 15 minutes. The Madrid
defence was caught in possession and Torres was given an easy toe
poke chance.
Madrid looked shell shocked, profligate in their passing and
totally outfought.
When Gabriel Heinze handled under pressure the referee awarded a
penalty ignoring the vociferous Madrid protests.
Gerrard easily converted from 12 yards.
Madrid finally tested Pepe Reina through Raul and Sneijder but
it was all desperate stuff.
Within a minute of the restart the game was over. Ryan Babel,
who had come in for some stick from the home support, crossed hard
and low, and Gerrard smashed home his second of the night.
The Reds captain, who was later substituted, was denied a hat
trick by a fine Casillas save.
Inevitably the pace slackened as Madrid came back into the game
but apart from a few half chances they posed little threat and
there misery was complete when substitute Andrea Dossena added a
fourth late on to inflict Madrid's heaviest away European
defeat.
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez said, "We worked from the beginning
to the end and the players deserved it.
"We approached the game with a lot of confidence and the
atmosphere was a help – it was team effort and they were very, very
good.
"I think we surprised Madrid by not sitting back and attacking
them from the start. They (Madrid) did not surprise me, I prefer to
look at how well Liverpool played."
