Champions League: Klopp claims Liverpool not driven by revenge against Real Madrid

LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp has insisted that his side are not motivated by revenge as they get set to meet Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

Real Madrid defeated Liverpool 3-1 in the Champions League final in Kyiv in 2018 after Mohamed Salah hurt his shoulder following a tackle by Sergio Ramos and had to be taken off early.

The two European giants are clashing again on Tuesday night in Madrid for the first time since that final, this time in the first leg of the quarter-finals.

“My motivation is the highest level because it is the Champions League and we want to go to the next round,” Klopp told reporters.

“We play Real Madrid and it has nothing to do with 2018, but when we got the draw and it was the first time we played Real Madrid since then of course I remembered the game. I said after the game that if someone asked me a week or a month later if I would invite Sergio Ramos to my 60th birthday I would have said no. Meanwhile, I would think about it again.”

Klopp still appears to insinuate that Ramos deliberately injured Salah though, even after the Spaniard has repeatedly claimed that he had no intention of hurting the Egypt forward.

“He’s a great footballer but I didn’t like what happened that night,” Klopp added.

“It was a strange night for us, but it’s long ago and I cannot get that feeling, that anger, back so I don’t even try. 

“What I try is to prepare my team to show how good we are. In a strange and difficult season for us we want to show how good we are and if we are better than Real Madrid or score more goals then we go to the next round and if not then it is Real Madrid. It is pretty easy.”

Liverpool have been in dodgy form in the Premier League, surrendering their title and struggling to finish in the top four positions.

But they have won their last three matches in all competitions and this gives Klopp confidence.

The German said:  “Revenge for 2018 or revenge for our not-so-good Premier League season? In general, this is not about revenge. We are not on a revenge tour. Life is like this. You try everything to win. You lose. You meet the opponent again one day. Sometimes it is close enough, like a week or two later, and then you can have these kind of emotions in you.”