The message was loud and clear. Real Madrid had never beaten Liverpool in an official match, nor netted a goal against the Reds. But the Spanish side changed all that on Wednesday night. In emphatic fashion.
Three days ahead of the Clasico against Barcelona, Madrid produced perhaps their finest football since thrashing Bayern Munich 4-0 at the Allianz Arena in the Champions League semi-finals last season.
Cristiano Ronaldo, just two short of the Champions League goals record prior to kick-off, was under the spotlight here, having scored only two in nine games against Liverpool in the past and never at Anfield.
But if the lights were on him, the Portuguese shone brighter and he gave Madrid the lead with a stunning strike which included a wonderful one-two with James Rodriguez, whose assist was as good as the goal itself.
That was Ronaldo’s 70th in the Champions League and he moved one ahead of Barca’s Lionel Messi, who reached 69 with his strike against Ajax on Tuesday.
“It was special, my first goal here at Anfield and I feel very proud for that. We got the three points, it was amazing,” the Portuguese (who was taken off after 75 minutes to keep him fresh for the Clasico) told Sky Sports after the match. “We knew before the game that Liverpool at Anfield is difficult but we played fantastic, especially in the first 45 minutes and we deserved to win.”