Alisson Becker has highlighted a 'lack of attitude' present in Liverpool's performance against Real Madrid after they limped out of the Champions League on Wednesday evening.
Only last season, the two European giants contested the competition's final in Paris, but after Carlo Ancelotti's side left Anfield with a 5-2 Round of 16 first leg advantage, the Reds were left with a mountain to climb in Madrid. And with fresh midfield casualties limiting Jurgen Klopp's options, Los Blancos were eventually able to win the second leg 1-0 on the night to complete a comprehensive 6-2 victory on aggregate to advance to the quarter-finals.
Reds goalkeeper Alisson made a string of first half saves that kept his team in the contest until deep into the second half but it was not enough to prevent a Liverpool exit at the first knockout stage. It led to the Brazilian international conceding that his team could have shown more spirit to try and overturn the deficit.
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Speaking after the match to TNT Sports, Alisson said: "I’m wearing the Liverpool shirt, I’m going to play against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu. The least I have to do is give my best. So that’s my thought, I believe I did my best, I leave here with a clear head. And now speaking as a team, we have much more to do. And this season of ups and downs, every moment had its reason.
“We had injuries, I think we don’t like to talk about it in football. We’re not going to use it as an excuse, but the injuries certainly hurt us. Now we only have one player left out, so that’s no longer an excuse. It’s been like this for over a month now.
“We had a fantastic, incredible game against United. Soon after, an inexplicable game against Bournemouth. And against Real Madrid, it’s not that we played badly, but we didn’t play enough to tie the game. There was a lack of attitude, a lot was lacking on our part.”
The one injured player Alisson is likely to be referring to is Thiago Alcantara, who remains on the sidelines and away from training. Luis Diaz is closing in on a return to first team action, but the Reds do have other absentees that came to light just prior to Wednesday's match-up in the Spanish capital.
Captain Jordan Henderson did not travel to Spain due to illness, while teenage midfielder Stefan Bajcetic has now been ruled out for the remainder of the season with an abductor problem.
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