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

Rio Ferdinand has blamed the defending 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 their Champions League last-16 tie.

Benzema’s goal 12 minutes from time wrapped up a comfortable victory for the defending champions, who inflicted Liverpool’s heaviest aggregate European defeat after winning 6-2 across the two legs.

The Frenchman scored after Eduardo Camavinga’s midfield-splitting pass ricocheted off Benzema’s feet, falling into the path of a bundling Vincius Jr who knocked the ball back across the box to leave the Madrid striker with a simple finish.

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

‘As the ball goes into the centre forward, Trent Alexander-Arnold has got to be thinking defensively,’ said Ferdinand on BT Sport.

Vinicius Jr (on floor) manages to make a pass to goalscorer Karim Benzema for the winning goal

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

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

“My two centre halves are in trouble, there could be a ball coming through here at some point, let me at least get myself back in to cover my defenders”. That’s got to be the first and only thought in this phase of play.

‘Look at the separation when the ball comes down to Vinicius. He’s gone from being side-by-side, to being five yards behind the player he was marking.

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

‘How has he got separated within two seconds to get to five yards and get a chance on goal?

‘He will be looking at this and be thinking, ‘I could have done better there’ because you can’t switch off at this level.’

‘That distance between one centre-back and the other, with one of the most lethal strikers on the planet in this position with the midfielder [Camavinga] facing play as well.

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

Former United centre-back Ferdinand was unhappy with Liverpool’s defending against Real Madrid

‘I’m baffled why one of those centre-backs doesn’t attach themselves straight onto him and the other can cover him and get in front.’

Shot-stopper Alisson had already denied both Vinicius Jr and Camavinga with brilliant stops from close-range in the first-half to keep Liverpool in with a chance of staging what would’ve been one of the competition’s greatest-ever comebacks.

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