Liverpool suffered a painful defeat at Anfield on Tuesday night (Picture: Getty Images)

Stephen Gerrard has called for an inquest over Liverpool’s remarkable 5-2 defeat to Real Madrid at Anfield on Tuesday night, saying the Reds players will need to ‘look in the mirror’ after the loss.

The amazing game saw the home side go 2-0 up after just 14 minutes thanks to goals from Darwin Nunez and Mo Salah, looking like they were going to produce a classic Anfield night for their fans.

Things went horribly wrong from there, though, with the visitors level at half-time thanks to a Vinicius Junior brace, then Eder Militao put Real Madrid ahead before Karim Benzema netted twice to complete the incredible scoreline.

Jurgen Klopp’s side are having a really bad season by their high standards and this is another painful moment after encouraging back-to-back wins in the Premier League had offered some encouragement.

Gerrard hopes that it will be a turning point for the Reds to address some issues that have been costing them this season, admitting that his former side were dominated and outclassed in the second half.

‘I think it’s a reality check,’ Gerrard said on BT Sport. ‘[Liverpool] got off to the perfect start – exactly what you need on a European night. Start fast, get yourself in front, build on it, 2-0 up.

‘But then from that moment, Real Madrid came back into it, scored quite quick – a fantastic goal. From then, Liverpool were dominated and outclassed for large periods.

‘Look, I think any team, any club, if you concede five goals there’s got to be an inquest into why and how, and I’m sure Jurgen will do that in the coming days. I think everyone will be a bit raw on the back of that defeat.’

He added: ‘Liverpool don’t concede five goals here at Anfield.

‘There’s going to be a bit of soul searching and a bit of looking in the mirror. There always is when you concede that many goals and it wasn’t good enough.’

Steven Gerrard says there needs to be some ‘soul searching’ at Liverpool (Picture: Getty Images)

Liverpool go to Real Madrid for the second leg on Wednesday 15 March as they bid for a miraculous recovery to make the Champions League quarter-finals.

Another Reds legend, Jamie Carragher, was also critical of his former side, telling CBS Sports: ‘Liverpool are eighth in the Premier League. They’ve just been battered 5-2 in the Champions League. I know it’s Real Madrid, but these are the two teams who were in the final last year. It’s not acceptable what we’re watching this season.

‘And we keep looking for reasons and excuses, but, no, it’s nowhere near good enough.’

MORE : Jurgen Klopp snaps at Spanish journalist and claims Liverpool gave best display of the season

MORE : Thibaut Courtois sends message to Liverpool fans over reaction to Real Madrid duo

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A brutal night for the Reds.