‘You can’t switch off’: Rio Ferdinand blames trio of Liverpool defenders against Real Madrid

Rio Ferdinand blamed the defense of Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate for Karim Benzema’s goal that gave Real Madrid victory over Liverpool in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 .

Benzema’s goal with 12 minutes from time capped off a comfortable win for the defending champions, who inflicted Liverpool’s biggest overall European defeat after winning 6-2 over the two legs.

The Frenchman scored after a pass from Eduardo Camavinga in midfield bounced off Benzema’s feet, falling into the path of a Vincius Jr who brought the ball down on the other side of the box to leave the Madrid striker with a simple shot. .

Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold and Konate could have done better in dealing with the threat according to former Man United defender Ferdinand.

“As the ball goes to the center forward, Trent Alexander-Arnold must be thinking defensively,” Ferdinand said on BT Sport.

Benzema (right) reacted quicker inside the box to score and put Madrid firmly in control

Reds defender Ibrahima Konate (right) was one of the trio Ferdinand blamed for conceding

“My two centre-backs are in trouble, I could get a ball through here at some point, let me at least get back in to cover my defences.” That should be the first and only thought in this phase of the game.

‘Look at the separation when the ball reaches Vinicius. He has gone from being side by side, to being five yards behind the player he was guarding.

‘That’s a world-class attacking player you can’t take your eyes off for a second.

‘How did you break away in two seconds to get to five yards and have a chance on goal?

“He’s going to look at this and think, ‘I could have done better there,’ because you can’t tune out at this level.”

‘That distance between one central defender and another, with one of the most lethal strikers on the planet in this position with the midfielder [Camavinga] face the game too.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was largely to blame for Benzema’s goal according to Ferdinand

Former United centre-back Ferdinand was not happy with Liverpool’s defense against Real Madrid.

“I’m puzzled why one of those centre-backs doesn’t stick directly to him and the other can cover him and get in front.”

Goalkeeper Alisson had already denied both Vinicius Jr and Camavinga with brilliant saves from close range in the first half to keep Liverpool in a chance to stage what would have been one of the best comebacks in the competition’s history.

Liverpool now face the prospect of a trophyless season and have an uphill battle to close the gap to the current top four teams in the Premier League for a place in next season’s Champions League.