Jurgen Klopp calls on Liverpool players to 'learn from this game' after crushing Champions League defeat to Real Madrid
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ByEurosport
Updated 22/02/2023 at 09:09 GMT
Jurgen Klopp has demanded his players "learn from this game" after his Liverpool side were thrashed 5-2 by Real Madrid in their last-16 first-leg Champions League tie at Anfield. After taking an early two-goal lead, the Reds were then dominated by the reigning European champions with Carlo Ancelotti's side running riot. "There's a lot for me to take from this as well," Klopp added.
'I think the tie is over' - Klopp doubts Liverpool hopes of comeback at Real Madrid
Jurgen Klopp has called on his Liverpool players to “learn from this game” after the Reds suffered a crushing 5-2 defeat to Real Madrid in a remarkable last-16 Champions League tie at Anfield.
Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema both struck twice as Los Blancos hit back from 2-0 down to claim a sensational victory in a devastating first-leg performance.
It is the first time ever that a Liverpool side has conceded three or more goals in a home European game.
Liverpool had made a lightning start, scoring twice in 14 minutes. Darwin Nunez gave the hosts a lead with a sublime flick from close range and a mistake from Thibaut Courtois allowed the record-breaking Mohamed Salah to register his 42nd goal in Europe.
"The beginning was outstanding,” Klopp told BT Sport.
“It was us in a nutshell. It was perfect, exactly how we wanted to play.”
However, the game was turned on its head when Vinicius Junior halved the deficit, before another goalkeeping error - this time from Alisson Becker - gifted his fellow Brazilian a second, leaving the score 2-2 at half-time.
“The whole first half was good, besides the goals,” continued Klopp.
"The first goal we became slightly passive higher up the pitch, we weren't chasing them. The second goal is slapstick. It shouldn't happen, can happen, 2-2.”
Real Madrid got their noses in front two minutes after the break thanks to Eder Militao who headed in Luka Modric’s free-kick delivery – a moment Klopp believes proved a game-changer.
"The first situation pretty much [after the break] they played a long ball to Vinicius,” continued Klopp.
“Not sure if it's a foul. How we defend that is not okay. Then 3-2 and that doesn't help against a team who are outstanding on the counter-attack.
"We couldn't get back on track any more. You need to play like the first-half for the full 95 minutes but you need momentum back. At 3-2 it was the opposite.”
Karim Benzema then notched a 12-minute double to put the game out of Liverpool’s reach.
Klopp continued: “They became more confident and scored great goals. One was deflected. That's how it is. It's a strange one.
"There's a lot for me to take from this as well.
"We have five or six players and no challenge [for one of the goals]. That can't happen. We were passive until the ball arrived there.
"The only way you can slow down the game a bit is to keep the ball. We started the second-half losing the ball in strange moments.
"This space [for the third goal] that's not possible but it happened. That's why it's 3-2.
"You have to keep the momentum and there we lost it and we didn't get it back.”
The result leaves Liverpool with a mountain to climb when the sides meet at the Bernabeu on March 15.
"We will go there and play a football game,” said Klopp.
“It will be a massive challenge. But we have to play in the Premier League first and make sure we learn from this game."
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Carlo Ancelotti durante Liverpool-Real Madrid - Champions League 2022/2023
Image credit: Getty Images
Meanwhile, Carlo Ancelotti refused to say that the tie is over.
"This is only the first part of a knockout tie, it's gone our way, but we'll need to imagine that in the second leg we'll have to suffer and work hard," the Real Madrid boss said.
"Liverpool is a great team which made us suffer in the first half so I'd say that, unfortunately, this tie isn't finished. No way."
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