Veniceius Jr. scored twice as Real Madrid paid Liverpool for more defensive errors on Tuesday, a 3–1 win that put them in sight of the Champions League semi-finals. Both Vincius and Marco Asensio gave Vincius a simple finish in the second before a simple move after throwing after Liverpool’s running back from the mashift back-line in the first half. Mohammed Salah’s strike after a short time gap made it a contest at Valdebebas, with the away goal definitely a crucial consolation for Liverpool to take to the second leg at Anfield next week.
But without fans and with a recently miserable record at home, Jurgen Klopp will find out what his team needs to do to survive his team’s season about reaching the top four of the Premier League.
“We didn’t play well enough, that’s my first concern,” Klopp said. “We did not deserve to win tonight, but the good news is that there is another match.
“We’re going to fight, 3-1 is not good, but we have a chance.”
After half-time and leaving two spells at the end, when his opponents were present to him, Liverpool were overpowered by Real Madrid, whose only disappointment could be missing by a clear margin before returning in eight days’ time. .
Earlier, they go up against Barcelona on Saturday and this result, their fifth consecutive win, will be a significant fixture in the La Liga title race should there be another massive boost in morale.
Madrid coach Zinedine Zidan said, “There is nothing, nothing is won.” “We are alive in two competitions and we will keep on fighting. We will start the second phase like it is 0-0 because it will be a great game.”
Madrid were without Sergio Ramos, who joined their team from all over the stand, while Rafael Vern, who tested positive for the Kovid-19 on Tuesday morning, meant that both sides were hitting fours and sixes.
The last time the two clubs met, Ramos dislodged Salah’s shoulder and Madrid won their 13th European Cup but Klopp insisted that his players had no desire for revenge.
They could do with some extra fire as Madrid were better in the first half, more controlled in possession and more aggressive in it. Liverpool seemed to have Madrid’s intensity trying to match and slow the game to gain a foothold.
The cross runs the show
In the end, he did neither opening and came quickly. Luka Modric wanted a penalty to be placed right out of the box, and Trent Alexander-Arnold was beaten very easily by Ferland Mendy, whose cross was just wide by Vinicius.
The excellent Tony Kroes was given the space at the base of the midfield to decide the tempo and it was a pair of arrowed balls ahead of the German that put Madrid on.
First he fired a shot against Vincius between Alexander-Arnold and Knut Phillips, who performed brilliantly to bowl the ball beyond their opponents and shoot low into the Liverpool net.
Seven minutes later, Kroes did it again, this time with the aid of a badly misguided Alexander-Arnold header, locating Asensio, who picked himself up on Alison Baker to leave with an open net.
A full stadium would have sent a flow of momentum through Madrid, but there was still a boil, as their options were cheering loudly and the players pressed fast and passed hard.
Liverpool held on for half time but the furious Klopp could not wait, leaving Nabi Keita for three minutes and sending Thiago Alcantara in his place.
The break had a brief effect, with Liverpool pulling back a goal five minutes later as Jurginio Visionaldum stepped forward and Diago Jota’s shot distracted mercifully into Salah’s path, which showed the way out of the crossbar.
For some time, the game was in balance. Crosse overcame and Sadio Mane finished a break on the left. Asensio should have ended for Madrid but was chosen to pass and was blocked.
Promoted
Another chance from Madrid was not far away, as Liverpool failed to react in the right to throw and Modric was allowed to drift inside, to sidefoot Vincius in a second.
Liverpool pushed for another away goal in the final minute but Madrid were not troubled. It was the Spanish cheers that could be heard when the whistle sounded.
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