The Reds were unable to claw back a three-goal deficit at the Santiago Bernabeu as they were eliminated from the Champions League.
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| Image: Real Madrid's Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring against Liverpool |
Karim Benzema scored the only goal of the second leg in the 78th minute
Liverpool could not produce another famous European comeback and were condemned to Champions League elimination with a 1-0 defeat at Real Madrid.
The Reds improved from their 5-2 thrashing in the first leg at Anfield but were comfortably second best to Los Blancos at the Santiago Bernabeu. Alisson was by far the visitors' most impressive player on the night, making a string of brilliant saves, while Liverpool struggled to create any clear-cut opportunities for their attacking line-up to capitalise on.
Real Madrid scored a deserved goal to extinguish any hopes of a late Liverpool miracle as Karim Benzema tapped into an open net with just over 10 minutes remaining.
A European exit at the last-16 stage means Jurgen Klopp's men will have to devote all their attention to the Premier League top-four battle. Real Madrid, meanwhile, underlined their credentials to defend their Champions League crown with a composed, intelligent performance in front of their own fans.
Liverpool's capitulation at Anfield had left them needing another miraculous European comeback to reach the last eight but it did not materialise at the Bernabeu, the reigning champions ramming home their advantage with Benzema's close-range strike (78).
Darwin Nunez went closest for Jurgen Klopp's side in an entertaining first half when he forced an acrobatic save from Thibaut Courtois, but Liverpool were indebted to their own goalkeeper, Alisson, for keeping Madrid at bay before their goal.
Madrid, winners over Liverpool by the same scoreline in last year's final, will now aim to go on and lift the trophy for the 15th time, leaving Klopp's men with a top-four finish in the Premier League as their sole remaining target in a bitterly disappointing season.
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