Real Madrid 1 Liverpool 0 (agg 6-2): Woeful Reds crash out to reigning champs

JURGEN KLOPP claimed Liverpool had a one per cent probability of inflicting a sensation within the Bernabeu.

In reality, it was extra like the chances in opposition to a Nationwide Lottery win, because the 14-time champions of Europe strutted into the quarter-finals with Klopp’s males barely in a position to lay a glove on them.

The Anfield boss had boldly instructed the Purple Military to e book their accommodations for this season’s last in Istanbul after that they had been overwhelmed by Carlo Ancelotti’s aspect in Paris final Might.

However these phrases appeared foolhardy ever since Real’s 5-2 demolition job on Merseyside final month.

That Real have comprehensively outplayed Liverpool in each legs exhibits simply how far the Reds have regressed since their quadruple-chasing days of final spring.

A miracle by no means appeared like taking place, even earlier than Karim Benzema’s late strike – his tenth in opposition to English opposition for the reason that begin of final season – prolonged Real’s comfortable first-leg lead.

It was the fourth time Real had ended Liverpool’s Champions League hopes underneath Klopp – twice in finals, twice in knock-out ties.

And their crosstown rivals Atletico are the one different membership ever to have eradicated the Reds from this competitors within the Klopp period.

This consequence confirmed a season with out silverware for Liverpool, who now face an almighty scrap for fourth place in opposition to Tottenham, Newcastle, Brighton and Brentford simply to have the ability to compete at this elite degree subsequent time period.

They’ve been wildly inconsistent this marketing campaign – however their type away from Anfield steered this unlikely salvage mission was at all times going to be a non-starter.

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The Champions League knock-out phases have been so crazed prior to now few seasons, that we had nearly come to count on extraordinary second-leg comebacks.

Return matches which have appeared on paper like useless rubbers have not often ended up as such.

However this one was useless, all proper. All it wanted was the princely duo of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric to determine their midfield mastery over a fading Fabinho and an historical James Milner and Klopp’s aspect by no means stood a critical probability.

Modric is definitely just a little older than his fellow 37-year-old Milner however he’s merely a lot better than Liverpool’s admirable Yorkshireman.

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Real squandered a string of wonderful probabilities, and Alisson made a few superb saves earlier than Benzema lastly discovered the online.

Ancelotti’s aspect had been under-rated in England final season, after they went and defeated every of the Premier League’s prime three golf equipment – Chelsea, Manchester Metropolis and Liverpool to assert Previous Large Ears but once more.

However neither Metropolis or Chelsea will relish being paired with them in Friday’s quarter-final draw.

Liverpool’s monumental job wasn’t helped by the absence of Jordan Henderson and Stefan Bajcetic – that means a begin for Milner, who was enjoying top-flight soccer earlier than Bajcetic was born.

Miracles do occur, not occasionally, within the Champions League however typically when the miracle-workers are at house within the second leg – with few higher than Liverpool’s comeback from 3-0 right down to Barcelona within the 2019 semi-final.

Who knew what to make of Liverpool – 7-0 winners over Manchester United and losers at Bournemouth since these two final met at Anfield?

It was, unsurprisingly, an attacking line-up from Klopp, with 4 specialist forwards, though Gakpo was in a extra withdrawn position.

Real had been pretty much as good as Ancelotti’s pre-match phrases, refusing to sit down again on their lead and it was energetic, end-to-end stuff.

Darwin Nunez was introduced with the most effective early probability – Salah darting clear and feeding the Uruguayan, whose shot was saved by the legs of Thibaut Courtois.

However Real had been beginning to swagger – Modric and Kroos their virtuoso string-pulling part in the midst of the park – and Alisson was quickly a busy man.

First he made a point-blank cease to disclaim Vinicius, the Brazilian tipped a thumping 25-yarder from Eduardo Camavinga on to his crossbar and saved together with his toes from Vinicius after an expensive first-time cross from Kroos.

Diogo Jota miscued an honest volleyed probability for Liverpool however the early aim they craved didn’t materialise.

Nunez, although, gave Dani Carvajal a going-over, minimize in from the left and drilled a shot which Courtois tipped huge. And Gakpo’s snap-shot pressured one other save from the Belgian.

These had been fleeting moments of hope however the Reds couldn’t seize one and by the interval an inconceivable mission was trying nigh-on unattainable.

Federico Valverde gained a deal with on the sting of the Liverpool field and requested one other first rate save from Alisson.

Klopp, with out many riches on the bench, despatched on Roberto Firmino and Harvey Elliott for Nunez and Jota – however Real had been nonetheless crafting the most effective openings, Valverde failing to maintain down a free header from a Modric centre.

Benzema then blazed over after a weaving Vincius run and it was a real surprise how the champions hadn’t prolonged their total lead earlier than the 79th minute.

When the aim did arrive, Vinicius even had time to fall over and recuperate earlier than he squared for Benzema to place the end result of the tie utterly past doubt.

Liverpool now face a critical combat simply to compete at this elite degree once more subsequent season.