Klopp rues wasted chances for Liverpool against Real Madrid

Jurgen Klopp was left to rue Liverpool’s first-leg performance after they crashed out of the Champions League to Real Madrid at Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp has blamed Liverpool’s Champions League exit on missed chances against Real Madrid in the Champions League.

After a 3-1 defeat in the Spanish capital last week, the Reds were left with an uphill battle for the return game at home on Wednesday night. In the end, they were unable to break down their visitors.

Despite chances for Gini Wijnaldum, Roberto Firmino, and Mohamed Salah, Real Madrid held out for a goalless draw at Anfield, sealing their place in the last four as a result.

Proud of the performance from the team, but the result is always king. Now to give everything to be in it again next season #YNWA pic.twitter.com/vpOWuOVwNy
— James Milner (@JamesMilner) April 14, 2021

Klopp was happy with the overall performance on Wednesday but lamented missed chances and that loss in Madrid last week.

He said as per the club’s website: “We didn’t lose the game tonight, we lost it in Madrid that is clear. The level of performance today was good enough and had we gone 1-0 up it would have been a different game.”

“It was uncomfortable for Madrid, we were good, we were aggressive, we played some really good stuff, had massive chances in the beginning of the game.”

“If we take one of them, it opens up. They had already struggles, it would have increased that. But if and when isn’t interesting because we didn’t score and then with the experience of Real Madrid they slowed it down.”

“We’ve had ridiculous games here where we should have won, not tonight, but in the Premier League, where we just didn’t finish.”

“Many times Mo Salah would finish this type of thing. We had so many situations and we could have created more because the football we played was better.”

With their exit from the Champions League, Liverpool are now out of all competitions this season and have only the Premier League to play four. With a top-four spot being the main target, bowing out of other competitions could turn out to be a blessing in disguise for Klopp and company.