Source: Telegraph
Liverpool v Real Madrid: Man marking
Pepe Reina:Real Madrid never managed a concerted assault on his goal, but had to be at his athletic best to deny Wesley Sneijder with one stunning first-half save, diving to his right to tip a thunderous free kick round his post. 7[LNB]Alvaro Arbeloa:A huge question mark lay over his fitness before the game, but the Spanish international proved why he was worth the risk. Arjen Robben, substituted at half time, will bear testament that few full-backs can do a man-marking job quite like Arbeloa. 8[LNB] Related ArticlesBenitez: Bring on United[LNB]Liverpool 4 Real Madrid 0: Agg: 5-0[LNB]Liverpool team page[LNB]Liverpool must close financial gap on elite[LNB]Top 10: European coaches[LNB]Real Madrid v Liverpool: Rafa Benitez's future overshadows Bernabeu showdown[LNB]Jamie Carragher:Resolute, uncompromising and unflinching as ever, Carragher did not put a foot wrong, but this was not one of those backs-to-the-wall European nights where he excels. Went about his business with little fuss, mainly thanks to Raul and Gonzalo Higuain's merely sporadic threat. 7[LNB]Martin Skrtel:Dominant in the air and crunching in the tackle. Skrtel is just a year into his Anfield career and is already a cult hero among fans. His use of the ball needs work, but there is no question that Rafa Benitez has found a long-term replacement for Carragher. 7[LNB]Fabio Aurelio:The Brazilian's endless injury troubles have meant he has, at times, struggled for form and consistency, but here he showed why Benitez was so keen to sign him. Defensively sound and always willing to overlap, while his set-piece delivery was almost flawless. 7[LNB]Xabi Alonso:Withdrawn after an hour, Alonso did nothing wrong but this was a night where things seemed to flow around him, rather than through him. He did still manage to feed Arbeloa to win the penalty, though, while he seemed to feed off Javier Mascherano's tenacity in the thick of the midfield battle. 6[LNB]Javier Mascherano:Won every tackle, chased every lost cause, harried every opponent. The Argentine international has not quite hit the heights of last season this year, but showed here why he is Diego Maradona's captain. Unlucky to hit the bar with a 25-yard dipping volley with his wrong foot, and even found time to set up Dossena's clincher with an inch-perfect cross. 9[LNB]Dirk Kuyt:Quite where the Dutch international gets his energy from is anybody's guess. That Kuyt is never substituted frustrates the Anfield faithful, but it is because he simply does not tire. His delivery can be wayward but he is growing into his right-wing role with every passing game. 7[LNB]Steven Gerrard:The Liverpool captain's second goal was vintage Gerrard. The late, powerful surge into the box, the instinctive knowledge of where he needed to be, the technically-accomplished, blistering finish. Gerrard drove his side forward all night and he simply terrified Madrid. 9[LNB]Ryan Babel:For a man with so much raw talent, the Dutch international has an annoying tendency to look like he's playing with someone else's legs. Here, though, he was electric, destroying the world's best right back time and again with sheer power and pace. 7[LNB]Fernando Torres:You can take the boy out of Atletico...as if there was any doubt Torres would play. He wouldn't have missed this for the world, as he showed in one 10 minute vignette in the first half. First, the backheel that made a fool of Fabio Cannavaro, then haring back 50 yards to tackle Sergio Ramos, and then celebrating his goal, provocatively, in front of the travelling Madrid fans. Atletico would be proud. 8[LNB]SUBSTITUTES [LNB]Lucas:It would be fair to suggest Lucas has become what is known in football as 'much-maligned.' But the Kop, despite occasional groans whenever his name is mentioned, are a fair audience and they warmly applauded the Brazilian last night. He responded well, with a neat, assured display. 7[LNB]Jay Spearing:Known as the mini-Gerrard, Spearing was impressive in just his second senior appearance. Rafa Benitez has bemoaned the state of the club's academy, but on this evidence, he may yet have the Premier League performer in the wings he so desperately wants. 7[LNB]Andrea Dossena:Despite only playing for around nine minutes, the Italian managed to get himself booked and score his first Liverpool goal. Liverpool fans will be intrigued to note he appears a much better left winger, where he has played much of his career, than he does a left back. 7[LNB]
