Watch Toni Kroos ping brilliant ball to Vinicius Jr as Real Madrid take lead vs Liverpool in Champions League

TONI KROOS brilliantly set up Brazilian prodigy Vinicius Jr to open the scoring against Liverpool.

Real Madrid hosted the Premier League champions in the Spanish capital for their Champions League quarter-finals first leg.

2

Vinicius Jr opened the lead against Liverpool after a brilliant pass from Toni KroosCredit: AFP

2

Brazilian Vinicius Jr celebrates his goalCredit: Getty

And the LaLiga kings were in front after 27 minutes thanks to a moment of brilliance from German Kroos and team-mate Vinicius.

The midfielder lobbed a pinpoint pass over to Vinicius, who expertly took it on his chest and fired home in the box.

It was only the 20-year-old winger’s fifth goal of the season.

Kroos was again involved as Real doubled their lead, through Marco Asensio.

The World Cup winner, sitting deep, fired a cross-field ball looking for Vinicius on the left.

Right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold then completely muffed his clearing header, diverting the ball straight into the path of Asensio.

The Spanish wideman then dinked it over keeper Alisson and guided the ball in for 2-0.

Kroos, 31, proved pivotal for Real in the first half, but came into the game as a doubt.

FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE

Live Blog

football news live England ‘set to host extra Euro 2020 games’, Haaland transfer updates

Live Blog

Man City 2 Dortmund 1 Foden scores in 90th minute to hand home side narrow advantage

Live Blog

Real Madrid 3 L’pool 1 Vinicius scores to restore lead after Asensio pounced on Trent error

ED DOWN Watch Jude Bellingham robbed of goal for foul on Ederson as Sancho slams ref

REVAMP Why isn’t Real Madrid vs Liverpool at the Bernabeu and where is it being played?

Gossip

Trafford trouble De Gea’s Man Utd future ‘in doubt amid growing tension with Solskjaer’

He missed Germany’s three recent World Cup qualifiers with a with an adductor injury, but manager Joachim Low stressed the importance of the playmaker.

Low said: “Toni Kroos should not be scared of losing his position in this team. He is a world-class player and is very important for this team.

“We know we can lose players due to injuries but I am confident we will have everyone available in May because in the Euros we will need more than 11 starting players.”

Real Madrid vs Liverpool – Watch LIVE for FREE, live stream, channel info and kick-off time