Brendan Rodgers surprised many with what appeared to be a weakened team selection in the Bernabeu this evening. However due to a mixture of Madrid complacency and excellent Liverpool defending, the scoreline was kept to a mere 1-0 defeat for the English visitors.

Many of Liverpool’s surprise selections impressed and have certainly given their manager something to think about ahead of the weekend’s clash with Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea.

Real Madrid

Iker Casillas-6

Casillas had very little to do throughout the evening but was comfortable in claiming the ball when required. Liverpool recorded just one shot on target did little to change Casillas’ minor workload.

Alvaro Arbeloa-6

The former Liverpool defender was hardworking throughout but again like his goalkeeper had little to do. The only real threat for Liverpool came through Adam Lallana and Lazar Markovic through the middle and on the right respectively. Alberto Moreno seemed reluctant to take Arbeloa on.

Raphael Varane-9

Varane was outstanding and arguably Madrid’s best performer. The French defender was often the host’s last line of defence, almost dropping in as a sweeper to fully defend against the counter-attacks of Liverpool. Varane showed an impressive level of composure on the ball and looks for all the world a defender who with a run of matches will become one of the elite in that position.

Sergio Ramos-8

Ramos, aided by Varane’s pace in behind him was able to defend a flat position strongly. He monitored Borini when the forward tried to manoeuvre through the middle. Was on the receiving end of a harsh booking in the latter stages for what appeared to be a fine challenge on Lallana.

Marcelo-8

Was a real threat in an attacking sense for Madrid. The Brazilian continued his burgeoning partnership with Isco with the pair linking up in the build-up to the host’s only goal.

Toni Kroos-6

The German international added very little to the Madrid performance, kept the ball tidily in parts but the match passed him by. Was fortunate to have such a hard worker in Luka Modric alongside him.

Luka Modric-7

Modric was Madrid’s engine in midfield. in the opening stages of the match the Croatian controlled possession and looked to drive Madrid forward. It was only as the match wore on and Liverpool grew in confidence that Modric’s effect on the match became limited.

James Rodriguez-7

Rodriguez again impressed with a number of neat touches and illustrations of individual skill but too often his final pass let him and the team move down. The Colombian is facing a difficult period with Gareth Bale now fit and Isco in such fine fettle.

Isco-8

The Spaniard again worked tremendously hard in covering the entire left-flank be that supporting Marcelo in attack or just dropping into midfield when Liverpool had the ball. Showed his instinct for attack as well with a number of clever touches and passes with the first signs of a partnership between him and Ronaldo forming.

Cristiano Ronaldo-6

An uncharacteristically quiet evening for the reigning Ballon d’Or winner with the Portuguese international simply having one of those evenings where not a thing went right for him. Ronaldo missed a whole host of chances and by the end grew frustrated at his own poor production.

Karim Benzema-7

The Frenchman scored the decisive goal and worked hard for his team when not in possession. Whilst not a vintage display, the former Lyon striker continues to show why Madrid did not push the financial boat out for a certain second Colombian this past summer.

Substitutes

Gareth Bale-7

The Welshman returned to football following an injury layoff and eased himself back in. Threatened with forward runs on a couple of occasions and even rattled Liverpool’s crossbar with an effort. Showed just what an asset Madrid have in him.

Nacho – N/A

Javier Hernandez – N/A

Liverpool

Simon Mignolet-8

The Belgian was expected to have a busy evening and that he did however more often than not it was the former Sunderland goalkeeper who came out on top. Mignolet made a number of high quality saves to keep the deficit between the two teams at one goal.

Javier Manquillo-6

The Spanish full-back was on the back foot all evening with Isco and Marcelo running rings around him. The 20-year-old defender made very mistakes throughout with some positive defending in patches, however the task was perhaps too big for him.

Martin Skrtel-7

Skrtel defended well all evening long despite an early mistake which gifted Ronaldo a shot on Mignolet’s goal, The Slovakian worked well in tandem with Kolo Toure to make Liverpool difficult to cut open even if Mignolet had to make a number of saves.

Kolo Toure-7

The player whom Liverpool fans were most fearful for ahead of kick-off actually proved to be the team’s best defender on the night. Toure rolled back the years to his time at Arsenal and was more than a match for Benzema and Ronaldo on a number of occasion. He even managed to go on one skilful marauding run down the left-wing in the first-half.

Alberto Moreno-6

Moreno, like Manquillo, had a difficult evening against Ronaldo and later Gareth Bale but the young full-back played well in patches. Utilised his speed very well.

Joe Allen-6

The Welshman was tidy in possession throughout but did little else, struggled to keep pace with Madrid’s midfield.

Lucas Leiva-7

Lucas provided a good service sitting just in front of Liverpool’s back-four but was found wanting in a few instances particularly when Madrid worked on the counter-attack at speed.

Emre Can-7

Was one of the few Liverpool players to look to make something happen with the ball. Can looked to play the ball forward into Borini as early as possible which in the early stages caused Madrid a number of problems.

Adam Lallana-6

Lallana looked confident on the ball with flashes of the fantastic feet we have grown accustomed to from the former Southampton playmaker however his final decision was often poor and lack of strength was highlighted against Ramos and Varane.

Lazar Markovic-7

The Serbian was a real threat due to his pace, the only downside being the performance of Varane was simply superb. On another evening Markovic’s effort with the ball would probably have been rewarded with at least one chance.

Fabio Borini-6

The Italian held the ball up well in parts but never really tested Madrid’s defense until one instance late on in proceedings when he challenged Ramos inside the Madrid penalty area and went on to put the ball into the net only for the referee to have called a foul seconds earlier.

Substitutes:

Steven Gerrard-6

Gerrard came into the match and gave Liverpool a bit of impetus going forward, illustrating his passing ability on more than one occasion.

Raheem Sterling-6

Sterling came on and worked hard up and down the right flank. Was afforded very few opportunities to run with the ball and his main contributions were two excellent defensive challenges on Cristiano Ronaldo.

Coutinho-N/A