Real Madrid vs Liverpool LIVE: Result and reaction as Reds crash out of Champions League
Real Madrid 1-0 Liverpool (6-2 agg): Jurgen Klopp’s men failed to overcome a three-goal deficit from the first leg
Liverpool’s impossible job against Real Madrid in the Bernabeu proved exactly that as there was no dramatic comeback and a 1-0 defeat saw them exit the Champions League without much of a fight.
All the damage had been done in the first leg but even with a 5-2 deficit there remained the romantic notion among the die-hards and dreamers that Jurgen Klopp’s side could fashion a performance to rival that of Istanbul 2005 or Anfield 2019 against Barcelona.
Klopp gave his side a one per cent chance ahead of the game but had it not been for the brilliance of goalkeeper Alisson Becker all hope would have been extinguished in the opening quarter.
This was the 14-time winners’ 300th Champions League match and all that experience showed with a balanced and controlled display of sharp attacking and tidy defending capped by a goal from their long-time nemesis Karim Benzema. However, it may be Liverpool’s last in the competition for a while unless they can iron out wild inconsistencies in their domestic form.
Relive the action as Liverpool exit the Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid:
‘The match is more complex for us'
"From a psychological level, the match is more complex for us than Liverpool.” said Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti,
"Liverpool come here to give it their all and do their best from minute one, whatever happens. We saw that from the first leg. We will try to do all we can from the beginning but we have more questions than the opponent."
Liverpool vs Spanish opposition
The first leg or this tie was also Liverpool’s 50th game against Spanish opponents.
They have narrowly won more than they’ve lost with 19 wins, 13 draws and 18 defeats. However, four of their last five Champions League campaigns have not just ended against sides from Spain, but specifically sides from the capital of Madrid.
Fabinho looks back to inspire Champions League comeback against Real Madrid
Midfielder Fabinho believes Liverpool will have to reinvent the spirit of their famous Champions League semi-final win over Barcelona to have any chance of progressing against Real Madrid.
In 2019, on their way to winning the competition, they overcame a 3-0 first-leg semi-final deficit to win 4-0 at Anfield.
The circumstances, however, are considerably different on this occasion as although Liverpool still need three goals, having lost the first leg 5-2, they will have to do it in the Bernabeu, where Real have only once failed to score in their last 66 European matches.
Fabinho looks back to inspire Liverpool comeback in Champions League
The midfielder recalled the 2019 victory over Barcelona ahead of the trip to Real Madrid.
Like a fine wine
At 37 years and 70 days old, James Milner will be the oldest Englishman to start in a Champions League match since David Beckham in April 2013 (37 years 335 days).
He’ll also equal Steven Gerrard’s 73 appearances in the competition.
‘We can surprise ourselves'
More thoughts from Jurgen Klopp’s press conference now. The Liverpool boss was pretty optimistic about tonight’s match but admitted it would be surprising if his team make it through.
"If we can surprise ourselves in a negative way we should be able to surprise ourselves in a positive way as well," said Klopp. "But it’s clear, we’re not here telling Madrid, ‘be careful, we’re coming’ - that’s not the situation we are in."
Will Real’s hoodoo be broken?
Liverpool must end a 14-year hoodoo to reach the quarter-finals for a fifth time in six years. It was 2009 when the Merseysiders last got the better of Madrid – winning 4-0 at Anfield at the same stage of the tournament.
The Spaniards have proved the dominant force in seven meetings since with six wins and one draw.
Two of those wins for Los Blancos came in Champions League finals, 2018 in Kyiv when Gareth Bale scored twice and last season in Paris.
Reds must scale mountain
Liverpool face a Herculean task in their bid to overturn a 5-2 first-leg deficit after falling to their record European home defeat three weeks ago.
They have pulled off some stunning Champions League comebacks, hitting back from three-goal deficits in the 2005 final against AC Milan in Istanbul and in the 2019 semi-finals against Barcelona, but if Jurgen Klopp’s side could turn their last-16 tie around at the Bernabeu, it would arguably top the lot.
Is the Champions League’s greatest comeback even possible? Only with Klopp’s Liverpool
A full 24 hours before Jurgen Klopp has to rouse his team into a frenzy, the Liverpool manager was pretty relaxed as he sat down in the Bernabeu’s plush new press room. His demeanour reflected the words of Fabinho, that there’s “nothing to lose”.
If Klopp didn’t quite offer a stirring statement of the type that has come to frame his team’s great comebacks - although Barcelona was naturally mentioned - there was at least the sense of trying to turn things on their heads and change minds.
The German had been asked whether the chaos of this season actually lends itself to something unexpected happening at the Bernabeu, where his team trail by 5-2 to Real Madrid in the Champions League last 16.
“If we can surprise ourselves in a negative way, we should be able to surprise ourselves in a positive way as well. If we are going up and down, tomorrow might be up.”
And another “if”, but with some oomph.
“If there is only a one per cent chance, I would like to give it a try.”
Is Champions League comeback possible? Only with Klopp’s Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp has given Liverpool a ‘one per cent chance’ but as his team head to Real Madrid inspired by memories of Barcelona, it is enough to convince some doubters that the impossible could still be on
Real Madrid vs Liverpool
Real have won six of the last seven meetings between the teams with the other ending game in a 0-0 draw at Anfield in April 2021 after they had done the damage had in a first-leg win in Spain.
Can Liverpool pull off a shocking victory tonight?
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