Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo remains in the hunt for illustrious record

Although not at his best, Ronaldo was persistent last night against Liverpool

No. The goal didn't arrive here, the single stroke of the ball to equal Raul's imperious record of 71 goals in the European Cup.

He wasn't in his devastating pomp here, mind, but Cristiano Ronaldo departed knowing how close he was to adding the highest goalscorer in European Cup history to his array of various accolades. The Real Madrid winger showed glimpses of the mercurial consistency and form which secured him the World Player of the Year accolade last year and may do so in January 2015, but never asserted his magic on this tight Champions League fixture.

He is, though, still, only one goal away from equalling Raul's record of 71 goals in the European Cup.

Ronaldo’s scintillating goalscoring

It would add to the array of recognition for his individual excellence, but what makes it even more special is the time frame in which Ronaldo has been able to challenge Raul's imperious record.

In 174 La Liga games for Real Madrid, Ronaldo has scored 194 goals. That puts him 10th on the all-time scorers list in just five and a bit seasons - and he is the only one in the top 20 to have scored at a rate of more than one per game.

Ronaldo is the second leading scorer in Champions League history, behind Raul. The Portuguese has scored his 70 goals in 106 games (excluding qualifying rounds), whereas Raul needed 142 for his 71.

He holds the record for the most Champions League goals in a single season - 17 in 11 games as Madrid were champions last time out and is the only player to have scored in eight consecutive Champions League games - a feat he also achieved last season.

Including one goal for Portugal and two in the UEFA Super Cup, Ronaldo has already scored 23 goals this season - and November has only just begun. He has scored 46 per cent of Real Madrid's 37 league goals this term and, with 17 goals in La Liga, leads the top scorer standings by a margin of eight from Neymar.

Subdued performance against Liverpool

Ronaldo was deployed on the left of Real's menacing attacking three designated to support the lone Karim Benzema, with James Rodriguez and Alarcon Isco completing the trio. He immediately asserted his quality on this match, forcing Simon Mignolet into an acrobatic stop early on. Skrtel was sloppy but Ronaldo was unable to take full advantage.

A sense that Ronaldo was building momentum was developing. An attempted innovative one-two, with Rodriguez, collapsed. He almost reached Marcelo's enticing cross, which was intercepted well by Mignolet.

Involved in the build-up to Benzema's opener, Ronaldo endeavoured to elaborate on his contribution. A swerving, powerful free-kick from 33 metres perturbed Mignolet, the Belgian ultimately diving down to his right to thwart the Portuguese attacker.

Latching onto Modric's exquisite pass, the Portuguese international sped beyond Toure and Skrtel but failed to score. He continued to threaten, continued to loom large over Raul's imperious record, his shot on goal gallantly blocked by Toure.

Real's No 7 emerged with effervescence after the break, surging down the left channel before his progress was brusquely halted by Skrtel's sliding lunge. Moments later, he was embroiled in the thick of the action again, his shot directed straight at Mignolet.

This was, perhaps, his opportunity. Inter-changing slickly with Benzema, Ronaldo threw Skrtel to the pristine turf, only to be thwarted by the imperious Toure. He continued to work and tire Mignolet, firing a free-kick straight at the Belgian.