Real Madrid played 'YNWA' as a mark of respect for Liverpool's previous tribute

Real Madrid's unusual decision to play 'You'll never walk alone' around the Santiago Bernabeu following their Champions League victory over Liverpool on Wednesday was done as a mark of respect.

Karim Benzema's solo strike was the difference at the Santiago Bernabeu as the visitors from Merseyside slipped to an eventual 6-2 aggregate defeat after losing 1-0 on the night in Spain.

However, instead of the 14-times Champions League winners playing their usual 'Hala Madrid' anthem around the 81,000 capacity stadium, Liverpool's historic anthem was instead blared out of speakers.

The touching moment saw both teams supporters come together as scarves and flags of Real Madrid and Liverpool were held aloft and the famous words of 'You'll never walk alone' echoed around the venue.

Instead of proceeding immediately down the tunnel following their Champions League exit, Liverpool players stuck around on the pitch and were seen embracing and shaking hands with their Madrid counterparts in the aftermath of defeat.

Now the reason for the change in music has been revealed, with Madrid wanting to demonstrate their gratitude for Liverpool previously paying tribute to the club's honorary president Amancio Amaro.

Amaro played 471 games for the LaLiga giants and scored 155 goals during a spell in the Spanish capital between 1962 and 1976.

He died on February 21 at the age of 83 and was remembered by Madrid as being 'one of the great legends of our club and of world football'.

Liverpool laid flowers prior to their first-leg Anfield defeat against Madrid and were thanked by the Spanish side's rendition of the Reds trademark fan anthem.

Former Liverpool and Real Madrid players Steve McManaman and Michael Owen both labelled the gesture as a 'class act' at full-time while working as pundits on BT Sport.

'Class club, lot of respect between the two teams, wasn't a bad-tempered game at all and (Anthem) it's a nice touch,' said Owen.

'Very classy from a fantastic club but Madrid were the worthy winners tonight, the best team best team gets through,' added McManaman.