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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Mark Wakefield

Glen Johnson rates Liverpool's top-four Premier League hopes after Real Madrid hammering

Liverpool have been told why their humiliating defeat to Real Madrid won’t have any bearing on their Premier League top-four hopes.

The Reds lost 5-2 to the La Liga giants on Tuesday night in the Champions League. It was the first time since the competition reformed in 1992 that Liverpool had conceded five goals in a home tie at Anfield.

On the domestic front, Jurgen Klopp's men are currently in eighth place in the Premier League table, seven points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur with two games in hand, and six behind fifth-placed Newcastle United with one game in hand.

READ MORE: Jamie Carragher names the number of new players Liverpool need after Real Madrid humbling

READ MORE: 'There used to be no question' - Adam Lallana explains the big Liverpool difference in Real Madrid defeat

The Reds resume their league campaign on Saturday night when they travel to Crystal Palace (7.45pm kick-off). And ahead of the Selhurst Park clash, Glen Johnson has explained why he feels his former club can put the damaging defeat to Madrid to one side.

“The Premier League is a different competition altogether,” Johnson told OLBG. “They came into the Real Madrid game in decent form and started this game very well.

“They did run into a bigger, better team and they're not going to play teams like Madrid every week in the Premier League, so as long as they can overcome the loss and carry on the league form then they will be very close to achieving the top-four spot.”

Johnson, who made 200 appearances for Liverpool between 2009 and 2015, has also had his say on his old club's chances of pulling off their greatest ever European comeback in the return leg in Madrid next month.

“The Bernabeu is a tough place to go and score goals,” said the ex-England international. “It’s not looking good to have to score four goals to qualify.

“It is highly unlikely, but at the same time, that could play an advantage because they can go there with no pressure and enjoy the game as much as they can.

“If they repeat their quick goal-scoring that they did at Anfield then it could be game on. However, it is unrealistic.”

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