Never had Liverpool conceded more than three goals on their home turf at Anfield in their huge history in European Cups. Led 2-0 after fourteen minutes of play, Real Madrid was quick to inflict a historic debacle on the Reds (2-5) on Tuesday in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
On the heels of their epic in 2022-2023, this totally crazy new comeback from Carlo Ancelotti’s men, marked by a huge blunder from Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson (2-2, 36th), and by a double from Karim Benzema (55th and 67th ), tipped at the very start of the second half according to Jürgen Klopp.
“We lost the momentum at that time”
On a free kick from Luka Modric, Brazilian defender Eder Militao took advantage of the incredible passivity of the band at Virgil van Dijk to allow Real to take the advantage for the first time in the match (2-3, 47th) . The German manager of Liverpool returned to a press conference on this episode.
The third goal we conceded, which was horrible, was the one that really changed the game. The way we defended this action is obviously not acceptable. We lost the momentum at that time and it never came back. In the second half, we ended up allowing Real Madrid to play the game they wanted to play. »
Namely “a lack of pressing and passivity” of the Reds quickly punished by the formidable reigning European champion, who therefore completed Liverpool’s qualification hopes, or almost, thanks to the double of his tricolor Golden Ball. It is hard to imagine KB9 and his family, given the indestructible confidence that has emerged from this group in the Champions League since last season, collapsing in three weeks at the Santiago Bernabeu. But given the bewildering scenario of Tuesday, we are obviously safe from anything with such teams.