Jurgen Klopp says he believes, for now at least, that Liverpool's Champions League dream is over following Tuesday's 5-2 capitulation to Real Madrid that gave the title-holders a significant advantage ahead of the last-16 return leg in Spain next month.
Liverpool couldn't have wished for a better start, as Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah put the home side 2-0 up inside 14 minutes.
It ended with the Reds' worst ever European home defeat as a brace apiece for Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema sandwiched an Eder Militao header at the start of the second half.
Put to Klopp that Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti said he could not say the tie was over, he said: “I think Carlo thinks the tie is over – and I think it as well in the moment.
“But in three weeks – that is how it is in these moments – the closer you get to the game, the bigger our chances become and the less likely that the tie is over.
“But tonight with a 5-2 when you see the game, they are pretty good in counter-attacking … we have to score there three goals and take some risks. That could be a bit tricky.
“But it’s really not in my mind so we go there, I can say that now already, and try and win the game.
“If that’s possible or not right now I don’t know but that’s what we will try and from there we will see.”
Liverpool v Real Madrid ratings
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LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker 4: No chance stopping Vinicius’s stunning opening goal. Horrible mistake when his pass out from back rebounded off Vinicius and into the net to make it 2-2. Wong-footed by deflection on fourth goal, rounded by Benzema for fifth. Reuters -
Trent Alexander-Arnold 6: Impressive passing display in first-half as right-back picked out teammates at will down right flank. Curled free-kick straight at keeper just before break. Like rest of Liverpool defence, found Vinicius a handful – to say the least. Getty -
Joe Gomez 4: Sloppy defending gifted chance to Rodrygo in opening 10 minutes but Real attacker failed to take advantage. Clumsy challenge on Vinicius gave away free-kick that led to Real going 3-2 up just after half-time, then deflected Benzema shot into the net minutes later for fourth goal. EPA -
Virgil Van Dijk 6: Came to Gomez’s rescue when he blocked Rodrygo shot after defensive partner lost possession in first-half but even class and experience of Dutchman couldn’t prevent Real running riot as match went on. PA -
Andrew Robertson 6: Wonderful sliding interception just before break stopped Rodrygo tapping home to make it 3-2 just before half-time. Has been brutal about Liverpool's failings this season and could do nothing as team fell apart in spectacular fashion again. Getty -
Jordan Henderson 5: Made some decent runs forward between the lines in first-half but made wrong call when he tried to anticipate Vinicius ahead Real’s opener, allowing Brazilian space to shoot. Father Time has caught up with experienced midfielder at this level. AP -
Fabinho 6: Some tough tackling from Brazilian midfielder but he and Henderson were made to look pedestrian against quality of Real’s movement on occasions. EPA -
Stefan Bajcetic 5: Teenage midfielder has played his way into Liverpool’s starting XI of late but found the going tough at times against Real’s star-studded midfield. Distribution not up to required standard. Getty -
Mohamed Salah 7: Provided assist for Nunez’s early goal and will be disappointed he didn’t score himself when he side-footed chance wide not long after. But did score in 15th minute after capitalising on terrible Courtois blunder. Faded after sparkling first half hour. AP -
Cody Gakpo 5: Dutch attacker was aiming to make it three goals on the spin but made very little impact for Merseysiders here and was no surprise when he was hooked just after hour mark. EPA -
Darwin Nunez 6: Audacious backheel finish to put Liverpool ahead after three minutes and showed his willingness to track back with an important interception at other end of pitch later in half. Not a sniff of goal in second-half when Liverpool failed to lay glove on Real. AP -
SUBS: Roberto Firmino (On for Nunez 64’) 5: Lost possession just after coming on which started Real’s counter-attack for fifth goal. Headed chance straight at keeper. Reuters Diogo Jota (On for Gapko 64’) 5: Portuguese has barely played this season due to injury and little chance to make impact here. -
James Milner (On for Henderson 73’) 5: Thankless introduction for veteran who was brought on with his team 5-2 down. AP -
Joel Matip (On for Gomez 73’) 6: Experienced defender can at least say no more goals were scored after he came on. AP -
REAL MADRID RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois 5: The hero of last year’s final in Paris gifted Salah Liverpool’s second goal with a horrendous error - but it didn’t prove crucial as Real ripped opponents apart at other end of pitch. EPA -
Dani Carvajal 8: Top-quality performance from right-back who never looked flustered and hardly put a foot wrong. Push on Nunez at start of second half had Liverpool striker claiming a penalty but rightly waved away by referee. AFP -
Eder Militao 8: Caught sleeping as Nunez found space for his very early goal and had to limp off injured after 25 minutes. Blocked Nunez’s close-range shot as Liverpool nearly made it 3-1 in first half. Stooping header from defender made it 3-2 to Real. EPA -
Antonio Rudiger 7: Former Chelsea defender back on English turf was solid at back for Spaniard and went for one optimistic strike from distance at other end of pitch in second half that that flew wide. Embarrassing over-reaction after being caught in face by Nunez at one point. Reuters -
David Alaba 4: Was struggling badly against the runs of Salah and the passing of Alexander-Arnold before having to limp off injured before half-hour mark. A night to forget for Austrian on night to remember for Real. AFP -
Luka Modric 8: Picked out Militao with perfect low free-kick from left-hand side of penalty area that saw Brazilian head Real in front just after break. At heart of counter-attack for team’s fifth goal. Croatian took control of midfield in second half as Real took control of game – and tie as whole. Getty -
Eduardo Camavinga 8: Key player in midfield alongside Modric as Real managed to turnaround two-goal deficit in some style at Anfield. Won important tackles and kept things simple with his distribution. EPA -
Federico Valverde 8: Scored 12th goal of season against Osasuna at the weekend but shot wildly over bar when well placed in first half. Superb industry and workrate from one of the form players in world football. AFP -
Rodrygo 8: Must have thought Real’s third goal was coming his way on brink of half-time after being teed-up by excellent Vinicius cross only for Robertson to block in style. Helped Real torment Liverpool at the back. Getty -
Karim Benzema 8: The prolific French striker had very little sniff of goal but it was his shot - via big deflection off Gomez - that made it 4-2. Brilliant composure to round Alisson and score the fifth. Getty -
Vinicius Junior 9: Two goals for Brazilian – one a brilliant finish from edge of box, the other lucky when countryman Allison booted a clearance off his leg that looped into the net. Saw another shot saved by goalkeeper in chaotic first-half. Booked for time wasting in second. EPA -
SUBS: Nacho (On for Alaba 27’) 8: Early introduction after Alaba’s injury and struggled to adapt to ferocious pace of game after coming on but did well in end helping keep Salah quiet for rest of game. Reuters -
Dani Ceballos (On for Rodrygo 80’) N/A. AP -
Marco Asensio (On for Benzema 86’) N/A. AP Toni Kroos (On for Modric 86’) N/A.
Liverpool head to Spain for the second leg on March 15 reeling from a humiliating loss, having become the first team in Champions League history to take a 2-0 lead and lose by a three-goal margin.
It is a result that could dent confidence in an already challenging campaign, but Klopp wants his players to focus on the positives.
“I can see that people think that, understandable, but that is actually not allowed,” the Liverpool boss said.
“I told the boys directly after the game so this is a different thing that happened today. One result that was opposite of what we wanted.
“We made mistakes around the goal, yes, as well and I said a couple of times a defeat is a defeat if you don’t learn from it.
“If you don’t learn tonight that the start of the game was outstanding and the way we played was us in a nutshell, us like we want to be, and that’s what we have to keep doing. If we now allow this one game to be influential, we are really silly.
“We have a few days where we’ll make sure that we take the right things out of this game.”
Tuesday's turnaround echoed the resolve and spirit Madrid showed in last year's knockout rounds on their way to lifting a record-extending 14th European Cup, where they beat Liverpool 1-0 in the final in Paris.
Before that they had to overturn a 4-3 deficit to Manchester City in the first leg of their semi-final before prevailing 3-1 at the Bernabeu to win the tie 6-5 on aggregate.
“Obviously we didn’t expect to start like we did but at 2-0 down I thought about the City away leg last year in the hope that we could do the same – but it turned out even better,” said Madrid boss Ancelotti.
“They were doing us damage down our left but when we were better in our attacks, we moved [Federico] Valverde a little bit towards that danger and we then defended better.”
Vinicius, 22, became the youngest player to score two goals against Liverpool at Anfield in one of Europe's leading competitions since Johan Cruyff for Ajax in 1966 when the Dutch great was 19.
The Brazil international is establishing himself as Madrid’s star player and, in the face of a typically daunting Anfield atmosphere, he rose to the occasion.
“Vinicius right now in my opinion is the most decisive player in world football, the man who can make the biggest difference, and if he can keep this consistency let’s hope he can continue in this vein,” Ancelotti said.
