Liverpool’s Klopp says revenge not driving force ahead of Real rematch

JURGEN KLOPP revealed he is unable to summon the same “anger” he felt at Liverpool’s Champions League final defeat three years ago as he rejected suggestions his side are on a revenge mission against Real Madrid.

The LaLiga giants claimed a third successive crown in

Europe’s elite club competition in May 2018 by beating the Reds 3-1 in the Kiev showpiece, where Mohamed Salah suffered a shoulder injury following Sergio Ramos’s challenge.

While Klopp had strong emotions at the time, he was adamant those have died down as the teams prepare to meet for the first time since that tempestuous occasion at the Alfredo Di

Stefano Stadium tonight. But with the Champions League the only silverware Liverpool can win in a season marred by mixed results and a spate of injuries, Klopp insisted there is plenty of incentive for his side ahead of the quarter-final first leg.

“My motivation is at the highest level because it’s the Champions League, we want to go into the next round, we play

Real Madrid,” the Liverpool boss said. “This has nothing to do with 2018 but when I got the draw – because it’s the first time we played Real Madrid since then, of course I remembered the game.

“It was a strange night for us but it’s long ago and I cannot get that feeling back, that anger or whatever, so I don’t even try.

“We are not on a revenge tour here. I don’t believe too much in revenge, but it would be nice to get through, because it would mean we are in the next round.”

Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, has hailed the abilities of Erling Haaland but defended Manchester City’s reluctance to spend over £100m on any player.

City continue to be linked with the highly-rated Borussia Dortmund striker despite Guardiola insisting his valuation puts him beyond the reach of the club. City will get a close look at the Norwegian as they take on Dortmund at the Etihad Stadium tonight.

Haaland, 20, has scored 39 goals for club and country this season including 10 in six Champions League appearances.

Manager Guardiola said: “The only thing I can say is that, with his age, he is an exceptional striker. The numbers speak for themselves and he’s a fantastic player – that’s all.

“To score that number of goals at his age is not easy to find. When that happens it’s because he can score with the right, the left, the counter-attacks, in the box. He’s a fantastic striker, everyone knows it.

“A blind guy would realise he’s a good striker.”