Liverpool will have a chance when Real comes to a ‘proper stadium’, says Klopp

Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool can turn the tables on Real Madrid when it hosts the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinals.

Published : Apr 07, 2021 11:16 IST

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (second right) celebrates with team-mates after scoring on Tuesday. Liverpool lost the contest 3-1.
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (second right) celebrates with team-mates after scoring on Tuesday. Liverpool lost the contest 3-1.
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Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (second right) celebrates with team-mates after scoring on Tuesday. Liverpool lost the contest 3-1.

Liverpool has a mountain to climb to reach the Champions League semifinals after losing 3-1 to Real Madrid on Tuesday but manager Jurgen Klopp says it has a chance to turn the tables when it hosts the second leg at a “proper stadium” next week.

Vinicius Jr. and Marco Asensio put Real ahead before the break at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium, and while Mohamed Salah grabbed an away goal in the second half poor defending allowed the Spanish side to net a third.

Winning the Champions League might be the only avenue for Liverpool to return to the competition next season as it is struggling to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League which would bring automatic qualification.

Asked about the challenge of chasing a top-four spot and trying to come back in the tie against Madrid, Klopp said his team cannot pick and choose their battles.

‘Have to go for everything’

“We have to go for everything,” he told reporters. “It's not like we can now make the decision after that game there's no chance in the Champions League any more. In the Premier League, we can't change it every week. We have to fight until the end and we will. This is a good result for Real and it's not that we have any kind of advantage, but with each day, each minute ... until the next game the 3-1 will not be that good any more for Real and not that bad any more for us because there's a chance.”

RELATED - Liverpool made things too easy for Real - Klopp

Liverpool overturned a 3-0 deficit against Barcelona in the semifinals in 2019 but in the second leg it will be unable to count on the atmosphere at Anfield, where it has lost its last six Premier League games.

Despite the absence of fans, Klopp said his team would be far more comfortable than it was at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium, which Madrid is using while the Sanitago Bernabeu undergoes renovation work.

“It must be a really tricky task for Real at Anfield with or without supporters,” Klopp said.

“This here was really strange, it was really difficult, a different situation with the stadium, but Anfield is at least a proper stadium and that will be good for us.”

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