Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool have been eliminated from the Champions League after a 4-2 aggregate defeat to Atletico Madrid. The Reds took the lead in extra time before being pegged back by the Spanish side. This means a relatively disappointing climax to a season that promised so much.
Jurgen Klopp And Liverpool Eliminated From Champions League
Klopp Proud, but Reds Stunned
It was a night that promised so much for Liverpool. After losing the first leg 1-0, Liverpool needed to produce another European comeback. All the elements were certainly in play.
The Reds were greeted by a rocking Anfield and it seemed like one of those nights when midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum put them ahead just before half-time.
The Reds huffed and puffed, but were unable to break the Spanish side down again in normal time. This meant that due to the aggregate score being tied, the game moved into extra time.
It was there that Liverpool seemed to have found their breakthrough. Roberto Firmino headed the ball against the post and then calmly slotted his own rebound into the net. Anfield went wild, everything seemed to be going exactly as planned.
Then it all Went Wrong for the Reds
Atletico Madrid clearly weren’t reading from the same script. Goalkeeper Adrian played a horrendous pass that was intercepted and played to Marcos Llorente. The midfielder than calmly slotted it into the net which meant that the Reds were going out.
So Liverpool pushed for another goal and that was their undoing. This gave Atletico the space to counter and they punished the Reds as Llorente struck again. Striker Alvaro Morata than completed the comeback with a last-minute winner in front of the jubilant Atletico fans.
Despite the loss, Liverpool was by far the superior team. They outshot their opponents 34-10 and had 72 per cent possession. This was why manager Jurgen Klopp was so proud of his charges.
“We did exceptionally well, we played exactly in the spaces we have to play. I loved the football we played, I loved how we played in the half-spaces, I loved how we used our triangles, squares on the left and right side, how we passed the ball, how we came to finishes,” said Klopp in his post-match press conference.
He also didn’t blame Adrian despite the keeper’s error being the catalyst for Atletico’s comeback.
He added: “Adrian is a super player, I love the boy, but it is in this moment the wrong decision, or he didn’t hit the ball right. I don’t know. Is it then necessary they score the goal? No.”
Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool Haven’t Failed
After a season that had fans dreaming of a treble, Liverpool will have to content themselves with only the league title and Club World Cup. This has led to some saying that Klopp’s men have failed.
The Reds have dominated the league on their way to winning it for the first time in 30 years. It was only a measly ten years ago that they had to contend with mid-table mediocrity under Roy Hodgson. Those with short memories must recall those days when even completing calling Liverpool a failure.
One bad week can’t erase an incredible season for Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool.
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