Reality check for Liverpool
LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp admitted his side had to quickly bounce back from the disappointment of Champions League elimination at the hands of Real Madrid to ensure it did not miss out on the competition next season.
Despite enjoying a host of chances, Liverpool fluffed its lines in front of goal as Madrid held onto its 3-1 first leg lead in a 0-0 draw in the second leg of the quarter-final at Anfield on Thursday.
The English champions are sixth in the Premier League with just seven games to go, three points adrift of a top four place that guarantees a spot in Europe’s premier club competition.
Liverpool has qualified for the Champions League for the past four seasons, twice reaching the final under Klopp.
After also losing 3-1 to Madrid in the 2018 final, the Reds beat Tottenham to lift the trophy in the Spanish capital in 2019.
However, after also ending a 30-year wait to be crowned English champions, Liverpool has suffered a drastic dip in form.
Missing out on the Champions League would not only be a blow to Liverpool’s prestige, but also have financial ramifications for Klopp’s ability to revamp his squad in the summer transfer market.
“We have to (bounce back). We love this competition and for different reasons it is very important for the club,” Klopp said. “It doesn’t make it now easier; these two or three games would’ve fitted easily in our schedule. But now we can concentrate on the Premier League.”