Steven Gerrard launches scathing Liverpool criticism as Real Madrid thrashing leads to 'inquest' demand

Steven Gerrard says Liverpool have plenty of soul searching to do after the Reds were dismantled b y Real Madrid 5-2.

Hopes were high at a rocking Anfield for their Champions League last 16 first leg tie, and racing into a 2-0 lead certainly fed into the hype. But five unanswered goals by the kings of European football saw Jurgen Klopp's men smashed by full-time and leaves them needing to pull off one of their best performance of all time on the continent to progress.

Scoring a minimum of three goals more than Los Blancos in Madrid to try and remain in the UCL will be a tall order in three weeks time. Speaking on BT Sport, the former Rangers manager said that Liverpool were outclassed by a side who were levels above them. He said: "I think any team and any club who concedes five goal, there has to be an inquest into why how. I am sure Jurgen will do that but they will be a btt raw after that defeat. Liverpool don't concede five goals at Anfield. If they do, it is very rare.

"There is going to be a bit of soul searching and a bit of looking in the mirror. There always is when you concede that many goals, because yeah, it was not good enough.

"Sometimes in football you just have to hold your hand up and say the better team won, you were dominated, they were better in most areas of the pitch. They (Real Madrid) got off to a slow start.

"But their experience and reaction was top class, and we are witnessing greatness in Luka Modric and Karim Benzema. These are players operating on a different levels to most."