Liverpool news

Vinícius Júnior of Real Madrid scores his side's first goal during the UEFA Champions League round. Vinícius Júnior caused Liverpool and Jürgen Klopp all sorts ...

[Vinícius Júnior](https://www.liverpool.com/liverpool-fc-news/features/liverpool-cristiano-ronaldo-vinicius-junior-26263323) with a piece of individual brilliance. Starting off the left once more, nobody kept up with the Uruguayan as he veered into a central space at exactly the right time. Klopp needs to try and make sure this is a blip, not a reversion. Liverpool sank back into itself, shipped two more, and never even really got a foothold in the second period. From the Vinícius Júnior goal onwards, it was like watching the fledgling confidence get stripped away in real time. Whatever the solution, Liverpool struggled to find it, and Vinícius is why they even remain in the tie, never mind well on top of it. But this is Real Madrid in the Champions League, and it clawed its way back. So much of his Champions League journey with the club has been entangled with Real Madrid, and it was only fitting that he should mark the milestone with a goal beyond Courtois. His gesture told the more detailed story of the goal: he wanted the defense to push out and get tighter. That message seemingly did not get through, with Vinícius almost scoring an identical goal a little later in the half, only for Alisson to produce an excellent save. Thibaut Courtois, hero of Paris (at least from Real Madrid’s perspective), turned firmly into the villain here; he dawdled on the ball, then watched on in horror as his control got away from him. But the journey from ecstasy from agony makes it hard to see that for the time being.

Jürgen Klopp felt mistakes cost Liverpool after they ceded a two-goal lead and lost 5-2 to Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 ...

If you don't learn tonight that the start of the game was outstanding and the way we played was us in a nutshell, was us like we want to be, and that's what we have to keep doing. I am not sure how often you watched us but we had periods where we played like this and it's not like you don't have to defend each opponent with that intensity… we have to play in this and that space, if we keep doing that they will have problems...' and then we start with conceding the third goal, which was a horrible goal and today it was pretty much the game-changer. We have a few days and we will make sure we take the right things out of this game. It's a different game than in Paris, of course, but anyway the intensity, the effort we showed, the football we played, pretty much everything was like how we want to see ourselves so we have to make sure that we keep that. Tonight, with the 5-2 and you see the game, they are pretty good in counter-attacking and we have to score three goals there and take some risk, so that could be a bit tricky. Yes, we have to improve, third goal massively, first goal massively, but we have to take the good things as well - that would be horrible if we don't do that. We lose the ball in the wrong moment, which is obviously a massive problem against Real Madrid with the counter-attacking threat they have and that's how it came to the result. it's how it is in these moments, the closer you get to the game the bigger our chances become and the less likely it is the tie is over. In the first half we could have scored a third one, we had our moments, we were a bit unlucky with the scrappy situation in the six-yard box. I really think everything was pretty obvious tonight; I think we gave all five goals away and that means we could have done better there, but they were all obviously different. The start in the game, in our situation where we are, it is really important that we see positive steps - and I think the first half was, besides the two goals we conceded, the best we've played for probably the whole season.

Liverpool surrendered a 2-0 lead against Real Madrid as they fell to a 5-2 defeat in the Champions League at Anfield on Tuesday night.

“It is pretty clear to see [we made] mistakes that we shouldn't make, but the only thing we can do is learn from it and focus on the next one - and don't be in panic. It’s hard that we have almost an impossible job in Madrid,” Van Dijk added. It sounds pretty easy but it isn't - but that's the hard reality." Virgil van Dijk has revealed the pain and "anger" that plagued the Liverpool dressing room after Tuesday night's humiliating 5-2 Champions League defeat at the hands of old rivals Real Madrid. That is the hard reality,” Van Dijk explained. And the way we lost, almost not giving ourselves a chance in Madrid, is tough.

Jurgen Klopp speaks after Liverpool's 5-2 defeat to Real Madrid in the last-16 of the Champions League.

"The first goal we concede we have to defend better. "In the first half we could have scored a third, had our moments and were a bit unlucky in the six-yard box. And it’s the result. "The two goals we have to defend better. We have to play in this and that space. We lose the ball at the wrong moment which is obviously a massive problem again against Real Madrid with the counter-attacking threat they have. Klopp added: "But I think it’s obvious that we can defend that better. "Today it was pretty much a game-changer. I think the first half, besides the two goals we conceded, was the best we had played, probably in the whole season. "The start of the game, in our situation, where we are, it’s really important that we see positive steps. We have enough players around, nobody puts a foot in. It’s slapstick, they equalise pretty much like the second goal we scored.

Jose Enriquez singled out three Liverpool players following Tuesday night's heavy Champions League defeat against Real Madrid - including Mohamed Salah and ...

[Join the debate!](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/liverpool-mohamed-salah-jose-enrique-29282414#comments-section) Do you agree with Enrique's verdict on Salah? [talkSPORT:](https://talksport.com/football/1339651/liverpool-mohamed-salah-criticism-jose-enrique/) "I don't think it's one problem, first of all, I think some of the players want everything, my honest opinion – the biggest one – is that they didn't really buy the players that they needed. I'm not just pointing out these players because it's been the whole team, but the truth is there are many world-class players in this team that have been performing that actually if he [Klopp] had options, he would bench them." [Premier League,](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/premier-league) and he's another player. [Let us know here.](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/liverpool-mohamed-salah-jose-enrique-29282414#comments-section) You cannot let [Sadio Mane](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/sadio-mane) [go], then buy [Darwin [Nunez]](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/darwin-nunez) and [[Cody] Gakpo](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/cody-gakpo) – players that still need to be made in the [Premier League,](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/premier-league) they've been OK, but they are not Mane. [Virgil van Dijk](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/virgil-van-dijk) and [Trent Alexander-Arnold](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/trent-alexander-arnold) for criticism - as well as Reds goalscorer [Mohamed Salah.](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/mohamed-salah) [Liverpool](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/liverpool-fc) defender [Jose Enrique](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/jose-enrique) has launched a scathing attack on a trio of first-team stars in the wake of the Reds' [chastening 5-2 defeat against Real Madrid](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/liverpool-real-madrid-goals-highlights-29277771) on Tuesday night. [Champions League](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/champions-league) hopes are now hanging by a thread ahead of next month's return leg at the Bernabeu, with [Jurgen Klopp's](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/jurgen-klopp) side needing to overturn a three-goal deficit in order to advance to the quarter-finals. Enrique went on to admit that Salah had been one of the better players on the night - but then doubled down on his criticism of the forward and insisted that Klopp should be scouring the market for somebody capable of replacing the Reds talisman, who also grabbed an assist after teeing up Darwin Nunez. Enrique, who spent five years on Merseyside and often champions the club and its players on social media, continued: "Yesterday, Salah was really good, but I don't know what's been going on with him since he lost the final at the AFCON.

However, according to David Maddock on Twitter, Carlo Ancelotti may have just 'inspired' a major Klopp rebuild. Certainly, all of the existing problems were ...

He is one of the best things to ever happen to Liverpool, and ushering him out of the club would be a surefire way for the owners to lose a big chunk of its support. The manager cannot escape criticism for the current campaign, but nor is he the root of the problems. As a result of the Real Madrid capitulation, his position is consequently in danger. [Liverpool](https://www.liverpool.com) raced into a two-goal lead. But if it prompts the owners to back Klopp to the hilt, perhaps some good could come from it. The outlet has previously claimed that Klopp’s future largely hinges on European success, following the collapse in the league. Some would argue that this is needed in the midfield alone. Klopp’s previous employer is on record saying that he would have been better off changing the entire team than letting the manager walk away. Credible, incredible and anything in between: we round it all up in one place here, taking a sideways look at the day’s media goings-on from around the world. Liverpool recognizes an excellent footballer, having seen plenty down the years. The midfield maestro earned the show of respect, and received it graciously. Luka Modrić put in a classy performance last night at Anfield.

Six permanent exits Liverpool may sanction to fund rebuild after Real Madrid horror show · Liverpool's turbulent season took another turn for the worse on ...

It's now clear that Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are Jurgen Klopp's best centre-back pairing but Konate has also continuously struggled to remain fit. It's time for Klopp to make some tough decisions. The time has now come to move Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on. Liverpool's sickening 5-2 Champions League defeat to Real Madrid on Tuesday night is likely to prove the catalyst for some cut-throat decisions this summer when Jurgen Klopp will seek to overhaul his depleted squad. Liverpool need to sell in order to sign multiple players this summer and if the Reds are to launch a move for Jude Bellingham - he is likely to cost the majority of their transfer budget. Yet in order to spend, Liverpool must also sell and there are a number of players whose contracts are due to expire at the end of the campaign.

Your Liverpool morning digest as the Reds are embarrassed by Real Madrid, plus a change may be made ahead of the summer transfer window.

Meanwhile, Nacho, Marco Asensio, and Dani Ceballos were utilised as substitutes in both, Lucas Vazquez watched on from the bench for both, and unused substitute Jesus Vallejo was at the end of his first season at the Bernabeu five years ago. And there was the poor touch from Fabinho at a Liverpool attacking throw-in and subsequent wayward positioning that allowed the Spaniards to race away for the fifth. Both sides have waved off key players since 2018, with Sadio Mane and Gini Wijnaldum no longer at Anfield. There was the hesitation inside the area that allowed Karim Benzema to get his deflected shot away for the fourth. [HERE](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/real-madrid-liverpool-embarrassed-inefficient-26301102). [HERE](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-new-summer-transfer-target-26304153). There was a goalkeeping error in Alisson Becker striking a clearance that hit the same player and looped into the goal for Real's equaliser. There was the individual, slack defending from Joe Gomez who turned his back on Vinicius Jr for the visitors' first goal. READ THE FULL STORY There was the collective failure to mark properly at set-pieces for the third. [Historic 'white paper' published that will have huge Everton and Liverpool impact](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/historic-white-paper-published-huge-26305522) [Jurgen Klopp faces major Naby Keita call as Liverpool consider forward overhaul](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jurgen-klopp-faces-major-naby-26301447)

Liverpool's hopes of a memorable return to Istanbul for another Champions League final are in tatters after a 5-2 defeat to Real Madrid.

[Jamie Carragher commented on the performance](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jamie-carragher-virgil-vandijk-liverpool-26298238) of the latter after Liverpool’s latest collapse. [Liverpool lost 4-1 in Naples](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-napoli-luis-diaz-ratings-24956598) earlier this season. [Manchester City](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-man-city-newcastle-staff-26288789) which had an impact, or the combination of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson having to play in central defence against the same opposition in 2021. The former Charlton man also made way for Matip against Napoli, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (as part of a reshuffle) at Manchester City in July 2020, both times during the interval. Two years earlier they were beaten [7-2 at Villa Park](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-player-ratings-villa-7-19048797), which was only 13 matches after they had taken a four-goal beating from City. What makes this more dispiriting is that the duo performed so well together in 2018/19 and the Premier League title-winning campaign. While not as early as in the previously mentioned heavy losses, there is a theme that Gomez was withdrawn long before full time on each occasion. [x-rated response](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jamie-carragher-liverpool-collapse-video-26300555) (“F***ing hell lads. While the second was far from entirely Gomez’s fault, it was his less-than-ideal back pass which led to Alisson Becker’s error, then the fourth goal deflected in off the 25-year-old defender. Against Madrid, he failed to close down Vinicius Junior which enabled the Brazilian to unleash a fantastic strike into the bottom corner of the Kop end net for his side’s first goal. Such games are inevitably (and unfortunately) memorable, though there have often been explanatory factors in the past. Liverpool’s hopes of a memorable return to Istanbul for another Champions League final are in tatters after a 5-2 defeat to Real Madrid.

Jürgen Klopp can heed the lessons of managerial rival Thomas Tuchel as he seeks to make Champions League history with Liverpool in the second leg vs Real ...

We deserved to go through after this performance and match today, but it was not meant to be. "We were very disciplined on the ball and very active and had a lot of investment off the ball. Mistakes were pretty much the story for Liverpool last night too, with Klopp telling reporters afterwards that his team 'gave all five goals away'. The most important word Tuchel used is 'courage'. "In the end, we were unlucky. We showed a lot of courage, and from there, we showed a lot of quality, and this was the right way to do it." It doesn't seem out of the question that Liverpool score three in Madrid, but it's hard to believe it can keep a clean sheet. [Manchester United](https://www.liverpool.com/liverpool-fc-news/features/liverpool-transfer-barcelona-manchester-united-26211505), who responded to a 2-0 Old Trafford reverse with a 3-1 win over [Paris Saint-Germain](https://www.liverpool.com/liverpool-fc-news/features/liverpool-kylian-mbappe-transfer-psg-26302207) in the 2018/19 last 16. [expected goals](https://www.liverpool.com/liverpool-fc-news/features/liverpool-expected-goals-key-passes-26277505) to Real's 1.2, enjoyed 57 per cent of the possession and, most strikingly of all, fired off 28 shots to the hosts' 10. [Sign up to the Liverpool.com newsletter here — it only takes a few seconds!](https://www.liverpool.com/newsletter-preference-centre/) [Premier League](https://www.liverpool.com/liverpool-fc-news/features/liverpool-mohamed-salah-henry-rooney-26244855) team scored three goals at the Bernabéu in a Champions League knockout match last season. "I think Carlo thinks the tie is over — and I think it as well in the moment," Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp said after watching his side lose 5-2 to Real Madrid in the first leg of its Champions League round of 16 match-up.