UCL: Klopp blames referee for Liverpool’s defeat to Real Madrid, expects Anfield comeback

LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp has accused referee Felix Brych of playing a part in his side’s 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid in their UEFA Champions League quarter-finals first leg clash in Madrid on Tuesday night.

Real Madrid outclassed Liverpool and scored through Vinicius Junior and Marco Asensio. Mohamed Salah scored Liverpool’s only goal to give them a chance of a second leg comeback next Wednesday at Anfield.

However, Klopp was fixated on a moment in the contest when the referee refused to punish Lucas Vasquez for what the coach felt was a bad foul against Sadio Mane.

“The situation with Sadio, I have to say what the ref did tonight I don’t understand,” Klopp said.

“For me, there was something personal. He dealt with the situation from Sadio, which is a clear foul, like it was a dive (by Mane) or whatever.

“From that moment on, whenever Sadio went down he didn’t get anything any more.

“It’s just not right. That’s what I told him (the referee) after the game, that I just thought he was unfair with Sadio. That’s how it is.”

Even while admitting that the referee was not the main reason Liverpool lost, Klopp still had a dig at him and called for better officiating.

The German added: “But that doesn’t change anything at all. He didn’t lose us the game, we were not good enough to get a better result.

“But in these moments obviously you need just an okay ref. That would have been enough.

“If you want to go to the semi-finals you have to earn the right to do so.

“We didn’t do that especially in the first half so the only good thing really good about the game, apart from scoring, is that it’s only the first half.

“We just didn’t play good enough football to cause Real Madrid more problems. I really thought it was possible but it is now hypothetical as we cannot show anymore in this game but can in the next. We made it too easy for them. You have to face all the criticism when you lose.”

Klopp, who was also in charge when Liverpool lost the Champions League final to Real Madrid in 2018, believes his team can turn the tie around in the second leg at Anfield, like they overturned a 3-0 deficit to Barcelona on their way to winning the title in 2019.

“I wasn’t happy with the way we played football when we were in possession,” he admitted. “We didn’t deserve a lot more but the second half was okay and it gives us a lifeline. The only good news is that we have another game. Did we deserve more than 3-1? I’m not sure to be honest.

“If you want to have some emotional memories you watch the Barcelona game back and 80 per cent of it is the atmosphere in the stadium.

“It’s not like I sit here and say ‘Comebacks are our thing’. We had supporters then and I don’t know if we can do it.

“It must be a really tricky task for Real Madrid at Anfield. This was strange tonight because it was really difficult with the stadium (at Madrid’s training ground) but Anfield is at least a proper stadium and it will be good for us.”

In the other Champions League quarter-final first leg on Tuesday night, Manchester City needed a late Phil Foden goal to beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium.

Kevin De Bruyne scored City’s opener in the first half before Marco Reus equalised for Dortmund with five minutes left in the game.