Locals did all they could to ruin a good night’s sleep for the Real Madrid squad on the eve of their Champions League clash against Liverpool, as they set off fireworks outside of the team’s hotel in the early hours of Tuesday, February 21.

Video by Liverpool resident Nauf Eluali shows fireworks being ignited in close proximity to the Real squad’s INNSiDe hotel on Old Hall Street.

Eluali, who lives close to the hotel, said the first round of fireworks was set off at around 1 am and lasted for approximately two minutes. “The second one went two hours later,” he added.

In a statement to the Liverpool Echo, a spokesperson for Merseyside Police confirmed a group had set off fireworks close to the INNSiDE Hotel.

“It was reported at 12:55 am that a group were setting off the fireworks close to the INNSiDE Hotel on Old Hall Street. It is against the law to carry or use fireworks if you are under 18, and illegal for people of any age to let off or throw a firework in a public place,” police said.

Liverpool were to play Real Madrid in a second-round first leg game at Anfield on Tuesday evening, their first meeting since last year’s final, when Madrid beat the Reds in Paris. Credit: Nauf Eluali via Storyful

Video transcript

[FIREWORKS EXPLODING]

NAUF ELUALI: Yeah. We have all your players. I'm not going to sleep tonight.

[FIREWORKS EXPLODING]

Yeah. We have all your players. I'm not going to sleep tonight.