Liverpool fans were spotted applauding Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric off the pitch at Anfield last night.
Modric was withdrawn with the game very much won for his team – 5-2 up and cruising. And despite the disappointing evening for their side, journalist James Pearce noted pockets of the Liverpool fans staying classy in defeat.
“Plenty of Liverpool fans applauding Modric as he goes off. What a player he is. He was sensational tonight,” Pearce wrote on Twitter.
Nice to see a touch of sportsmanship from the Reds fan in defeat. Hard to picture the Madrid man doing the same, though.
Nothing to applaud for Liverpool fans at Anfield
In truth, there wasn’t all that much for Liverpool fans to applaud beyond the 15th minute last night.
A tremendous start soon gave way to a truly horrendous evening for them. All that was left to do was to doff your cap to the quality on show from yesterday’s visitors.
And plenty of quality there was too. From Karim Benzema’s peerless footwork, to Fede Valverde haring about in midfield.
In amongst all of that, Modric didn’t particularly stand out at all. Why let that matter though, the Croatian has been doing little and earning applause from every corner throughout his whole career.
That would be easier to stomach if Modric showed any kind of appreciation to his fellow professionals.
A Madrid legend he may be, but little Luka is not a player who deserves such respect from opposition crowds. How could anyone of a Liverpool persuasion read his comments to Mohamed Salah after last year’s Champions League final and still clap him?
Unfortunately in football, and in life, the bad guy often wins. In football, Real Madrid are very much that bad guy. And this time, once again, they’re the ones coming away from Anfield smiling.
One of these days, we’ll wipe those smiles from their faces. And it will be beautiful.