Anyone who expected another rousing European comeback from Liverpool clearly hasn’t been paying much attention since August.
In truth, though, even the most hardcore Reds supporter would have struggled to truly believe Jurgen Klopp’s side could replicate their Barcelona heroics of four years previous against Spain’s other behemoth.
And this patchy performance underlined exactly why while encapsulated the struggles of this increasingly underwhelming campaign.
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Forget that it was Real Madrid in the building site of the Bernabeu and consider these facts.
Liverpool were decent in patches, created a number of chances but didn’t take them, and were then made to pay when the opposition took advantage of at least one of their own.
That describes too many Reds’ away games this season, this group of players simply lacking the mental fortitude, collective talent and, yes, belief to turn tight matches in their favour.
True, even when Real Madrid didn’t require any great fortune, they still received it with the muddle that invited Karim Benzema to score the only goal with 11 minutes remaining.
The tie, though, was long, long since over, Liverpool having run out of ideas to find a way beyond Thibaut Courtois in the home goal after a somewhat encouraging first half.
Fingers have been pointed – usually quite rightly so – at the Reds defence this season, not least after the first leg that proved so costly.
But it’s the attack that has failed to sparkle this season as a unit. Yes, there have been the goal-laden triumphs over the likes of Bournemouth, Rangers and Manchester United. This latest setback, however, was the third successive away game in which Liverpool have failed to score, a seventh of the campaign. Five have been lost.
It was all the more curious given the Reds had started with four forwards as they pursued at least three goals. There were chances before the break – Darwin Nunez twice testing Courtois while Cody Gakpo warmed the palms of the Belgian – but few openings afterwards.
Indeed, the decision to replace Nunez before the hour was not met with universal approval, the Uruguayan, even after a slow start to the second half, the most likely given Mohamed Salah was afforded particular attention by the Real defence.
So continues Real’s hold over Liverpool. And while this was the same outcome as the last Champions League final, the difference between the teams is far, far greater at present.
Less than 10 months on, this disappointing night is further proof the Reds stand at a crossroads under Klopp’s tenure. Which way are they now going to turn?
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