Real Madrid ran out 5-2 winners over Liverpool in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last 16 tie on Tuesday (February 21). The Reds' revenge mission over Los Blancos continues after they suffered defeat at Anfield.As Champions League knockout games go, this one was right up there with the very best. The game was enthralling from the get-go, with the Reds on the front foot. Darwin Nunez gave his side the lead in the 4th minute in spectacular fashion. Mohamed Salah assisted him with an impressive eye-of-the-needle pass. However, the Uruguayan striker's finish was breathtaking as he sent a slick backheel past Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.The Belgian goalkeeper's woes didn't stop there as Jurgen Klopp's side caused havoc once again in the 14th minute. Dani Carvajal played a simple pass back to the shot-stopper. He miscontrolled the ball, sending it right to Salah who sent the Merseysiders into a 2-0 lead.Real Madrid dug deep and Vinicius Junior breathed life into them in the 21st minute with an exquisite finish. He then equalized in the 36th minute and this time it was Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker's turn to slip up. The Reds stopper smashed the ball into his Brazilian counterpart with the ball nestling in the back of his net.The frenetic pace of the match continued into the second half, with Los Blancos starting to dominate proceedings. Eder Militao gave them the lead for the first time with a bullet header in the 47th minute. Karim Benzema wasn't going to watch this game pass him by without scoring. The Frenchman's 55th-minute strike took a heavy deflection off Joe Gomez and past Alisson.Carlo Ancelotti's men then extended their lead to 5-2 in the 67th minute through another Benzema finish. He broke past Alisson and sealed his 18th goal of the season. It means Liverpool have it all to do in the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on March 15.Twitter user TheEuropeanLad reckons:"Has to go down among the craziest Champions League games ever this one."Meanwhile, UK rapper KSI thinks Real Madrid violated the Anfield outfit:"Real Madrid doing that at Anfield is a major violation."Here's how Twitter reacted to an enthralling encounter between two of Europe's big guns:𝐀𝐅𝐂 𝐀𝐉𝐀𝐗 💎@TheEuropeanLadHas to go down among the craziest Champions League games ever this one.4470196Has to go down among the craziest Champions League games ever this one.Trey@UTDTreySalah waiting for his Real Madrid revenge86711146Salah waiting for his Real Madrid revenge https://t.co/yrqyherbRiTroll Football@TrollFootballSalah waiting for his Real Madrid revenge twitter.com/i/web/status/1…6497859Salah waiting for his Real Madrid revenge twitter.com/i/web/status/1… https://t.co/ffDbaNpby0Jake@Jakie_edsReal Madrid just love playing Liverpool don’t they Real Madrid just love playing Liverpool don’t they 😂Statman Dave@StatmanDaveKarim Benzema’s game by numbers vs. Liverpool:91% pass accuracy42 touches2 shots 2 goals1/1 long ball completed1 dribble completed1 assistBallon Benz. 🎖️16114Karim Benzema’s game by numbers vs. Liverpool:91% pass accuracy42 touches2 shots 2 goals1/1 long ball completed1 dribble completed1 assistBallon Benz. 🎖️ https://t.co/70aybpyEWnMadrid Zone@theMadridZone12 goals in the last 8 Champions League KO games for Karim Benzema. ⚔️98512412 goals in the last 8 Champions League KO games for Karim Benzema. ⚔️ https://t.co/uXgYQH6KVtCasey Evans@Casey_Evans_Lorius Karius is about to make his first professional start in 2 years and two world-class keepers drop absolute clangers in the lead-upNah his influence is unmatched63348Lorius Karius is about to make his first professional start in 2 years and two world-class keepers drop absolute clangers in the lead-upNah his influence is unmatched💎🇶🇦@TJayyyy_1de gea seeing alisson and courtois have a bozo off31934de gea seeing alisson and courtois have a bozo off https://t.co/hYKDhqh6HcTroll Football@TrollFootballCourtois and Alisson both making howlers tonight238272419Courtois and Alisson both making howlers tonight https://t.co/Kh0MqHPag2Raf@CFCRaf2Karius watching these Alisson and Courtois stinkers1483109Karius watching these Alisson and Courtois stinkers https://t.co/v5eiDHQVRIToTo@UTDkingsleyvan dijk watching Benzema dribbling pass Alisson before taking the shot12415van dijk watching Benzema dribbling pass Alisson before taking the shot https://t.co/CVSneqVO0tTS🍇🇧🇷@TrujistaSanchoAlisson making that “mistake” to alter the script133364Alisson making that “mistake” to alter the script https://t.co/T5mszqNx3ZTrey@UTDTreyCOURTOIS WHAT ARE YOU DOING3909145COURTOIS WHAT ARE YOU DOING😭Manny@Manny_OfficialWhat is this game???4748What is this game???MBWIGA@KabigAnordMadrid sending Liverpool back to a hole they crawled from, You love to see it#halamadrid@ChampionsLeague1Madrid sending Liverpool back to a hole they crawled from, You love to see it#halamadrid@ChampionsLeagueFSG OUT@LFC_000@TheAnfieldTalk Jurgen Klopp once again costing us. tactically incapable@TheAnfieldTalk Jurgen Klopp once again costing us. tactically incapableFabrizio Romano@FabrizioRomanoVinicius Junior has 17 goals & 8 assists in 35 games with Real Madrid this season #UCL…and this one was one of the best, by far — after Liverpool amazing start.190501276Vinicius Junior has 17 goals & 8 assists in 35 games with Real Madrid this season ⚪️🚀 #UCL…and this one was one of the best, by far — after Liverpool amazing start. https://t.co/cvvRJFgIVUYM Milli@Milli89870314Vinicius Jr I knew you were special from day one . Too bad you play for Real Madrid Vinicius Jr I knew you were special from day one . Too bad you play for Real Madrid 😒Dr Yash @YashRMFCVinicius is moving like his idol Ronaldo2808279Vinicius is moving like his idol Ronaldo https://t.co/suXf0hySUcksi@KSIReal Madrid doing that at Anfield is a major violation 11436446Real Madrid doing that at Anfield is a major violation 😅Sam McGuire@SamMcGuire90Darwin Nunez showing zero respect to Real Madrid.2028178Darwin Nunez showing zero respect to Real Madrid. https://t.co/QHp2xxY8hEynwa 🇶🇦🔴@NunezDefenderyou know it’s over when trent was the best defender today302you know it’s over when trent was the best defender today https://t.co/SO7utD1tbYMark Goldbridge@markgoldbridgeNunez. Told you he'd be a success. Gets in too many good positions not to be. Chance magnet.358798Nunez. Told you he'd be a success. Gets in too many good positions not to be. Chance magnet.Paul@PaulSkyxI hope Liverpool fans are not thinking of a comeback at the Bernabeu?I hope Liverpool fans are not thinking of a comeback at the Bernabeu?Real Madrid Xtra@RealMadridXtraThe Karius soul is haunting Anfield tonight.85590The Karius soul is haunting Anfield tonight. https://t.co/a3uYSg7uJvCourtois howler brings back memories of Liverpool's 2018 UEFA Champions League defeat to Real MadridReal Madrid v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League FinalCourtois hung his head in shame after his moment of calamity that allowed Salah to put Liverpool 2-0 up. Of course, the Belgian goalkeeper's blushes were spared by an impressive comeback from Real Madrid.The Anfield faithful are all too familiar with goalkeeping errors in games against Los Blancos. Courtois' blunder holds similarities to that of former shot-stopper Loris Karius' infamous moment of madness in the 2018 Champions League final.The German had hold of the ball in the 55th minute but bizarrely rolled it out to Benzema. The Frenchman put the Spanish side 1-0 up as Karius shamefully looked away in misery.The Reds did equalize through Sadio Mane in the 55th minute, but Gareth Bale stepped off the bench to score a brace. His first was a memorable overhead kick in the 64th minute. His second was another Karius error, this time he fumbled the Welsh winger's shot into his net in the 83rd minute.