Former professional footballer and current television pundit for BT Sport Rio Ferdinand leaves Downing Street Former professional footballer and current television pundit for BT Sport Rio Ferdinand leaves Downing Street after attending a meeting in London, United Kingdom on March 08, 2023. Picture: WIktor Szymanowicz/NurPhoto via AFP
Image: WIktor Szymanowicz/NurPhoto via AFP
Considering the source, it would have come as a massive compliment from Rio Ferdinand as he paid special tribute to Liverpool following their 2-0 Champions League win at Anfield on Wednesday.
The 46-year-old Ferdinand is a Manchester United legend, having made over 300 appearances for the club at the peak of their powers between 2002 and 2014.
On a night where even the mighty Mohamed Salah missed from the spot, it was still a dominant performance from Liverpool as they ran out comfortable winners.
The win saw Liverpool maintain top spot in the new format Champions League 36-team table with five wins from five.
“They've put the gauntlet down to all the other teams in Europe. They look like the best team in Europe at the moment,” Ferdinand told TNT Sports after the match.
“They're playing as a team and look the hungriest individuals about. They're not only getting results, they look starving. They look like they haven't been fed for ages, Rottweilers running round the pitch hunting teams down. They've got the composure.”
Liverpool reeled off 17 shots in total to just the eight of Madrid, and the hosts also enjoyed 63% possession.
Liverpool also produced 617 passes compared to the 365 of Madrid.
Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring for Liverpool in the 52nd minute, before Kylian Mbappe failed to level the scores for Madrid just after the hour mark.
Salah missed his attempt from the spot a few minutes later, as he didn’t even manage to hit the target. However, Cody Gakpo finally grabbed Liverpool’s second in the 76th minute.