Jürgen Klopp admitted Liverpool’s interest in this season’s Champions League was effectively over after their error-strewn display was punished by ruthless Real Madrid. “We gave all five goals away, all five,” said an incredulous Klopp after Liverpool conceded five goals in a European game at Anfield for the first time in their history.
Liverpool also became the first team in Champions League history to lead 2-0 and lose by a three-goal margin as they succumbed to a sixth defeat in the last seven matches against the Spanish giants. Klopp’s team need to produce another stunning European comeback in the last 16 second leg to preserve their final chance of silverware this season. But a dejected Liverpool manager was in no mood for defiance after a comprehensive first leg defeat, and admitted a recovery looks beyond his team.
“I think Carlo [Ancelotti] thinks the tie is over and I think it as well in the moment,” said Klopp. “But in three weeks or the closer you get to the game the bigger our chances become. Tonight 5-2 and everyone saw they are pretty good in counterattacking and we have to go there and take some risks to score three goals. That could be tricky. It is not even in my mind. We will go there and try to win the game. I don’t know if it is possible but we will see.”
The Liverpool manager described his team’s first-half performance as arguably the best of the season but admitted there were no excuses for the procession of mistakes that enabled Vinícius Júnior to cancel out a 2-0 lead and for Real to outclass their opponents in the second half.
Klopp added: “We gave all five goals away, all five. In our situation it is really important we see positive steps and the first half, besides the two goals we conceded, was pretty much the best we played all season. The second goal was slapstick. The first goal we have to defend better, there are enough players around. It is a world class moment from Vinícius as well but obviously we can defend better. Half-time was rather positive but then we start with a third goal which is a horrible goal and pretty much the gamechanger. We lost the momentum in that moment and never got it back. The second half was the game Real Madrid wanted to play.”
