A humiliating experience for Liverpool at Anfield, losing 3-0 to Real Madrid with a goal from Cristiano Ronaldo and two more from Karim Benzema, as the gap between the two teams was painfully revealed.

Maybe Luis Suarez is just that good, and Liverpool have fallen so far the moment he left. But maybe this is simply a stepping stone as they attempt to climb back up the ladder of European football, only to receive a severe beating and important lesson along the way.

Not a great match from Real Madrid, who finished the job with three goals within 20 minutes (22-41) in the first half. It felt like things went too easily for them against a defense that’s slow and struggles to contend with crosses and set pieces.

The first goal came after a brilliant built up between Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodriguez, eventually leaving the Portuguese star in a one on one inside the box, needing one clever and powerful touch to score the opener, his 70th in the competition, one below Raul.

The second goal was scored by Karim Benzema off of a Toni Kroos cross. Not a comfortable or accurate header from the Frenchman, but poor marking from Glen Johnson and terrible positioning from Simon Mignolet helped make it a two goal lead.

The third was another mess in the box off of a corner kick, as Benzema was quickest to react while Liverpool defenders were falling around him.

Liverpool spent most of the second half in offside, often left exposed. But Real Madrid were already thinking about the upcoming Clasico, not trying too hard to make it a historic night.