Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool did not produce a performance for a miracle against Real Madrid

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said his team failed to produce a ‘special’ display to beat the odds against Real Madrid in the Champions League, admitting the team needed to play a ‘different opponent’ to progress.

Karim Benzema’s 78th-minute goal gave the hosts a 1-0 win on the night, but all the damage was done in the first leg as Liverpool lost 5-2.

Klopp made damning criticism of the Reds’ poor performance, saying Madrid deserved more than progress to the quarter-finals after his side offered little to make them sweat in their three-goal lead from the first leg.

‘That was not a performance by a miracle. I think the right team went through and that’s what the round of 16 is about.

‘If you want to have a miracle, you have to play better or against a different opponent. Tonight, Real Madrid deserved to go through.

He cursed his team after a 1-0 defeat in Madrid sealed a 6-2 aggregate defeat in the Champions League round of 16.

“We came here with the backpack we had with the three goal difference, and you need a special performance and we didn’t show a special performance tonight,” he said.

“At times it was a good performance, but Real Madrid was the team that was in control for most of the game. They had better chances.

‘Ali (goalkeeper Alisson Becker) had to make two sensational saves to keep us in the game and that’s why (we lost).

‘If you want to pass, you have to be exceptional. If you want to win the game, you have to be really good, and Madrid were the best team and that’s why the right team went to the next round.”

Klopp went 4-2-3-1 on a goal attempt but made changes just after the break by retiring Darwin Nunez, who had his two best chances in the first half, and Diogo Jota.

Karim Benzema’s goal added to Madrid’s healthy overall lead and Klopp admitted his side weren’t special enough and the LaLiga side deserved to go through.

“It was clear to Diogo that he shouldn’t play for long as he is still recovering from a long, long injury and you could see the game became more difficult for him,” he added, confirming there were no injury issues.

He made some fouls because he was late, so there is no risk for him. Darwin seemed like he wasn’t in the absolute top tier either and we needed to defend that side as well. We could change and we wanted to mix things up a bit.

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, who continues to outscore Klopp in the Champions League after beating him in the final last season, was pleased with his team’s performance.

He believes he has, in Vinicius Jr, the best player in the world currently after the Brazil international gave Trent Alexander-Arnold another tough night, beating him six times, the most suffered by any player in La Liga matches. Champions this week.

“He is (the best player in the world),” Ancelotti said.

“It’s important because he gave an assist (Benzema’s goal) and every time he touched the ball it was dangerous.”