Klopp: We Are Magic, This Isn’T Over

the times | Wednesday April 14 2021 1G M 61 Champions League quarter-finals Sport Klopp: We are magic, this isn’t over

JOHN POWELL/LIVERPOOL FC/GETTY IMAGES Paul Joyce Salah and his Liverpool (1) v Real Madrid (3) Northern Football Correspondent team-mates must overturn a 3-1 Champions League, quarter-final There was always going to come a point deficit at Anfield Second leg, Anfield, Liverpool when the focus switched away from this evening Kick-o 8pm TV BT Sport 2 what Liverpool are missing, and what Referee B Kuipers (Netherlands) they must do without, and back on to what they still possess. Jürgen Klopp Liverpool (probable; 4-3-3) did not so much say it as write it all down. Alisson There is no doubt that the absence of T Alexander a swaying, baying Kop will hamper -Arnold N Phillips O Kabak A Robertson attempts to overturn a 3-1 first-leg deficit against Real Madrid tonight. T Alcântara Fabinho G Wijnaldum Without a crowd, this stripped-back quarter-final second leg becomes pure- ly about football. M Salah R Firmino D Jota And although Klopp stopped short of offering up any tub-thumping sound- Vinicius Jr K Benzema bites at yesterday’s main press confer- ence, despite insisting that he was L Modric T Kroos “completely in the mood” for the task in Casemiro hand, his thinking would be revealed Marcelo Á Odriozola elsewhere. “What we will not lose sight of is how F Mendy Nacho E Militao good we are,” he wrote in his column in T Courtois the match-day programme. Liverpool still have Mohamed Salah, Real Madrid (probable; 5-3-2) Trent Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Alisson and Andrew Robertson, to son echoed his manager’s stated belief name a few. And while they do, that something close to perfection was Klopp believes that they have a fighter’s required. “We need to be better at chance even against rivals as experi- everything we do,” the left back said. enced and canny as the 13-times “We need to put pressure on an champions. unbelievable, experienced team and try “The talent we have. The magic in to make it uncomfortable for them. If our dressing room. And the character we can do that and take chances, let’s required to make special moments see where it can take us. It needs to be happen. We have the entire package at a close to perfect game. We’ve done it in Liverpool. So for me tonight is about conundrums, is positive, then the ing Vinícius Júnior to outpace his mark- the past but we can’t rely on that.” two giants, on the biggest stage, having Modric: We will not sit back margin for improvement is huge. ers, as the work of a midfield genius. In the immediate aftermath of the the opportunity to compete. How cool Certainly, Liverpool should not lack Either way, Zinédine Zidane’s side ramshackle loss in the Estadio Alfredo is that? Let’s embrace it and attack it. Luka Modric has vowed Real Madrid motivation. Fail to recover and they have been assisted in their efforts to Di Stefano, Klopp was asked about how ‘Vamos,’ as a few of the players like to will attack Liverpool and insisted he do not know when they will next exert a stranglehold on games, which the absence of supporters would com- shout before kick-off.” would prefer it if there were a full grace the competition given how tight seems reckless in the extreme. Little plicate this evening’s assignment and This is how Klopp will try to create crowd at Anfield (Paul Joyce writes). this season’s battle to finish in the wonder Klopp repeatedly stressed the he referred immediately to the stupen- the noise that will be absent from the The Croatia and former top four in the Premier League has need to defend at the “highest level”. dous comeback against Barcelona two stands; his words painting a picture Tottenham Hotspur midfielder, 35, become. “It’s a difference to watch Real years ago in the semi-finals . of how his dressing room address won 3-0 with Real at Anfield in 2014 That is for another day, however, and Madrid and to play Real Madrid, I have He claimed “80 per cent” of that might sound when, at about 7.50pm, in front of 43,000 fans and said an in the short term Liverpool’s task will be to say,” he said. “Because the individual improbable success, when Liverpool he imparts one last rousing call to empty stadium would not be an made easier if they stop handing Real quality of the players is really high, if clambered off the canvas to win the arms. advantage to them. goals on a plate. they want something desperately.” second leg 4-0, and the tie 4-3 on aggre- The truth is, of course, that the “We are coming here to win the Of the past six they have conceded There are selection issues for Klopp gate, had been due to the frenzied “magic” has been missing for some time game,” he said. “We are not coming against the Spaniards, only Gareth and, after ripping up his blueprint in the atmosphere inside the ground. and Liverpool have been far from the here to protect the result and just sit Bale’s majestic overhead kick in the away leg with his first-half substitution His players now have the chance to “entire package”. back. 2018 Champions League final in Kiev of Naby Keita, he has no margin for show that he was doing them a dis- Whether Salah can tuck away the “To be honest, I would prefer to has been truly earnt, with Klopp and error. service. “My job — and the job of the first chance that comes his way, rather play at Anfield with a full crowd. I Andrew Robertson disagreeing on A recall for Roberto Firmino might boys — is to channel your energy than needing two or three, and whether played here a few times with the manner of the opening goal eight make the tie less straightforward for despite the forced distance,” Klopp Alisson can recover his poise in goal are Tottenham and once with Real and days ago. Kroos given the Brazilian’s natural added in his notes. the sort of nagging questions that will the atmosphere was amazing. Robertson described all the conces- inclination to drop deep and forage, “We know it’s still there, therefore we be answered only when the whistle “Everyone wants to play with fans, sions as “cheap” where his manager while Thiago Alcântara will also hope can still use it. It’s more of a challenge, blows. with the crowd.” preferred to see the 50-yard pass to start rather than come on. of course, but since when did we ever do If the response to those, and other pinged from deep by Toni Kroos, allow- Once back on the same page, Robert- anything the easy way?” It’s time to let Thiago dictate – and shut down Casemiro

This game is about two things: If Thiago Alcântara plays, and injury, suffered from Covid-19 problems in defence. That would not Rafa Benítez intensity and calm. Liverpool need to remember that he did not start and joined a team that has been be unusual for them, as Zinédine be intense against Toni Kroos and the first game, in which Naby unsettled are all reasons why — Zidane chose to move from a back Luka Modric, which they did not do Keita was preferred, then he can regardless of what a good player four to a five in the second leg of the Former Liverpool well enough in the first game. At the be a key player. He offers he is — it may have been difficult previous round against Atalanta, and Real Madrid same time, that does not mean composure, quality on the ball for him to adapt. when they had a lead to protect. He manager running all over the pitch and losing and he has the characteristics Give him time and he also moved to a back five in the final organisation. They must follow their to see the pass. has the quality to be a minutes against Barcelona on game plan and they must be compact Alcântara can dictate the really important player Saturday, and they saw out a 2-1 win. iverpool must score two in everything they do. If we are tempo in the same way that for Liverpool but, of Álvaro Odriozola and Marcelo goals and not concede after looking for improvements from the Kroos and Modric do. course, it would help if came on as substitutes and were on their 3-1 defeat in the first first game, then Jürgen Klopp might Those two have team-mates he could make a either side of Éder Militão, Nacho and leg. That is easy to say and say that his team needs to play closer running and linking around difference now given the Ferland Mendy. While it is not certain more difficult to do against a together in order to help each other them, but they are the ones situation of the tie. that they will use that system it is a Lteam such as Real Madrid. out and cover for each other. who offer control. When you have possibility but it isn’t a negative move. But what I am sure about is that I was not surprised that Real played There has been a lot of someone who has a picture Real will know that they are not Liverpool will have chances with the a lot of long balls over the top last discussion about the form of the whole pitch in his through but will arrive at Anfield with attacking players they have and then week. Liverpool play a high defensive of Alcântara, but the pace head, it means that they confidence because they have a good it is about whether they can take line and that will be a tactic Real look of the Premier League is can switch the play and record in the knockout stages. They those opportunities. If they score to deploy again because I do not even higher than what he pick out the front players, enjoy the pressure of these matches. early, then that is obviously good. If think that Jürgen will change the was used to in the which is where Their key player will be Casemiro. they do not, then there is no need to system or the shape of his team. But Bundesliga. The fact that Liverpool’s strength lies. Everyone focuses on the goals of panic and even if Real score then then you have to be especially aware he had a serious knee This is especially Karim Benzema, or the pace of there is no need to think that the tie of opponents running in behind and important should Real Vinícius Júnior, who scored twice a is over. We know that Liverpool are the concentration among the Alcântara did not start switch to a back five week ago, but Casemiro gives them capable of scoring three goals. defenders is so important. the first leg loss to Real because of their injury balance. He is so important.