A highly changed Liverpool contended energetically yet missed the mark against Real Madrid as Karim Benzema scored the main objective in their Champions League match.

The Frenchman turned in Marcelo's low cross after Simon Mignolet had done well to keep out deliberations from Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodriguez. 

Liverpool undermined quickly after the break as Adam Lallana terminated simply wide. 

In any case Real stayed in control and Steven Gerrard and Raheem Sterling's entry off the seat couldn't turn the tide. 

Notwithstanding the slimmer edge of triumph, the amusement subsided in an also relaxed style to when Real reveled in a 3-0 win in the opposite installation at Anfield a fortnight back. 

In perhaps the greatest bet of his managerial profession, Brendan Rodgers rolled out seven improvements to the beginning XI that lost to Newcastle at the weekend, with Mario Balotelli and Jordan Henderson joining Gerrard and Sterling on the seat. 

All shooting, no celebrating 

Cristiano Ronaldo's run of 13 progressive goalscoring appearances arrived at an end, abandoning him one short of Raul's untouched Champions League record of 71 objectives. 

It was not for the need of attempting however. The Portuguese endeavored 10 shots - seven more than whatever other player on the pitch. 

Rather, Kolo Toure, who has seen short of what a moment of Premier League activity this season, began in barrier, behind a midfield trio of Emre Can, Lucas and Joe Allen, with the willing Fabio Borini in assault. 

Liverpool's line-up appeared to recommend harm restriction, instead of a vengeance mission, at the Bernabeu. 

In the event that minimizing their misfortunes was Rodgers' point, he succeeded, however some will battle to comprehend his methodology to such a defining moment. 

The result, and group choice, will be tossed into much starker light ought to Liverpool neglect to get a result at home to Chelsea on Saturday, when some of their rested first-decision players are prone to return. 

Also guaranteeing exhibitions from a few of Rodgers' second string won't modify the maths of Group B, in which Liverpool end up three focuses behind second-put Basel with two amusements to play. 

Their line-up may have appeared to be all the more in keeping with the Capital One Cup than the Champions League, yet the progressions at first seemed to unsettle in-structure Real. 

Liverpool made a comparably guaranteeing begin at Anfield, however, and Mignolet was still needed to make sharp prevents from Rodriguez and Ronaldo. 

The Merseysiders held out just four minutes longer than they oversaw on home turf before Marcelo stole a walk on Lazar Markovic on the left to set up Real's opener. 

The full-back's measured cross was met by Benzema as he darted before Toure and the guests claimed futile for an offside banner. 

Liverpool arrived at half-time without enlisting a shot on objective however, all the more imperatively, regardless of being penned once again on the edge of their own case, made due without surrendering a second. 

The Reds rose for the second half to an energizing chorale of You'll Never Walk Alone from the voyaging fans, and they reacted with additionally assaulting try. 

Alberto Moreno and Lallana both brought on snippets of alert with depictions, before Borini saw a free-kick avoided wide. 

Be that as it may it was the hosts who made more openings, with Benzema side-balance over on the stretch and Gareth Bale hitting the bar in the wake of being presented on the hour. 

Gerrard, Sterling and Philippe Coutinho went ahead before long, however a late sucker punch never arrived. 

Rather it took an opportune foul from Moreno to stop Bale as he formed to let fly with his left foot and Real examined at the becoming protective holes. 

Look at the best of Tuesday's Champions League photographs in our display on the BBC Sport Facebook page. 

Liverpool's group to play Real Madrid 

Liverpool rolled out seven improvements to the beginning XI that lost to Newcastle on Saturday 

Steven Gerrard and Mario Balotelli 

Mario Balotelli and Steven Gerrard ended up among the substitiutes 

Genuine Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo 

Cristiano Ronaldo stays one objective short of Raul's record-breaking Champions League objective record in the wake of neglecting to score without precedent for 14 appearances 

Steven Gerrard, Gareth Bale and Adam Lallana 

Gareth Bale, focus, was at Southampton in the meantime as Liverpool's Adam Lallana