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:
Real Madrid will go on the attack against Liverpool, insists Carlo Ancelotti
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is making no assumptions about what lies ahead against Liverpool despite Jurgen Klopp’s side facing a seemingly-impossible task in the Bernabeu.
The Champions League holders bounced back from two early goals at Anfield to win 5-2 and that three-goal cushion – coupled with the fact they have only once failed to score in their last 66 European home matches – appears to have put them on the verge of the quarter-finals.
However, Ancelotti, who as AC Milan manager famously suffered a remarkable 45-minute comeback by Liverpool to win the 2005 final, is taking nothing for granted and can also point to last season’s quarter-final second leg at home to Chelsea – which they lost 3-2 but progressed by virtue of their 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge.
Real Madrid will go on the attack against Liverpool, insists Ancelotti
The Champions League holders bounced back from two early goals at Anfield to win 5-2.
Liverpool team changes
Injuries have forced Jurgen Klopp’s hand when it comes to team changes. Ibrahima Konate replaces Joel Matip at the back with James Milner coming into midfield.
Diogo Jota will probably start up top as Liverpool begin the game with all four of their strongest attacking options.
Injuries to Jordan Henderson and Stefan Bajcetic mean they miss the match.
Liverpool starting line-up
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Milner, Gakpo, Salah, Jota, Nunez
Pre-match thoughts from Carlo Ancelotti
“The message to the team is simple: we have to try to play as well as possible, just like in the first leg. We won’t try to calculate anything, we have to be in the game from the first minute.
“We have to go into the game with maximum intensity and enthusiasm and try to win it. We won’t rest on the advantage we have. It will be an open game, we want to attack and play our best attacking football.”
Liverpool ready to chase ‘one per cent’ chance against Real Madrid says Jurgen Klopp
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp rates his side’s chances of knocking Real Madrid out of the Champions League at one per cent.
They arrived in the Spanish capital trailing 5-2 from the first leg and while Klopp has upgraded his assessment from three weeks ago, when he said Madrid were already through, the odds have not swung much in their favour.
Liverpool do not have history on their side either as only once have they overhauled a three-goal first-leg European deficit – the famous 4-0 Champions League semi-final victory over Barcelona in 2019.
No team in the competition’s history has ever lost the home leg of a knock-out tie by three goals and recovered, while only four have ever overturned a three-goal first-leg deficit.
Liverpool ready to chase ‘one per cent’ chance in Madrid says Jurgen Klopp
The Reds trail 5-2 to Real Madrid from the home leg of their Champions League tie.
Pre-match thoughts from Jurgen Klopp
“I said three weeks ago after the game that Madrid were through; now we know there’s a game to play. Even if there’s only a 1% chance, we have to give it a try.
“We have nothing to lose, and it’s a better situation than when you can lose everything. Obviously I would prefer Carlo’s situation, defending a three-goal lead.”
Real Madrid team changes
Carlo Ancelotti has made two changes to the Real Madrid side that dominated the game at Anfield.
David Alaba and Rodrygo drop out with Nacho and Toni Kroos replacing them.
Real Madrid’s starting XI
Real Madrid XI: Courtois, Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Nacho, Kroos, Modric, Camavinga, Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Jr
Real Madrid vs Liverpool prediction
No fairytale comeback this time around for Liverpool and the reigning champions will proceed to the last eight with a comfortable victory.
Real Madrid 2-1 Liverpool (7-3 agg).
Real Madrid vs Liverpool predicted line-ups
Real Madrid - Courtois, Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Camavinga, Kroos, Valverde, Modric, Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinicius Jr
Liverpool - Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Elliott, Milner, Salah, Gakpo, Jota
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments