Five years ago to the day, Jurgen Klopp took a giant stride into Liverpool folklore. He had been their manager for six months. His former club, Borussia Dortmund, arrived at a packed, expectant Anfield for the second leg of a European quarter-final. Within 10 minutes, Liverpool trailed 3-1 in the tie.
There the towering equation – at least three goals needed, now that Dortmund had their two away strikes – remained until half-time, when Klopp reached into the archive. “We used the story of Istanbul,” he revealed afterwards of his inspiring team talk.
Istanbul: It is the most famous chapter in the long saga of Liverpool comebacks in Europe, a 3-0 half-time deficit against AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League final transformed into eventual victory on penalties. Against Dortmund Klopp wrote his own chapter. “3-1 down, and then 4-2 down – no problem,” Klopp beamed after a 4-3 rollercoaster, with a 91st minute winner putting Liverpool through to the Europa League semi, 5-4 on aggregate. “Maybe the next generation of Liverpool players will use this game,” Klopp forecast.
Might he cite it, or other fabled turnarounds, ahead of confronting the 3-1 deficit Liverpool take into the second leg of their Champions League last-eight tie against Real Madrid tonight? “We will see,” Klopp replied, “some of the players were involved [in previous comebacks].”
Against Dortmund five years ago, Roberto Firmino, James Milner and Divock Origi played significant parts.
Meanwhile eight of the men who might appear against Madrid saw action two seasons ago in a still more famous recovery, against Barcelona – another 4-3 turnaround, this one over 180 minutes, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Origi combining brilliantly for a fourth goal that put Liverpool into the Champions League final. They had left Camp Nou a week earlier 3-0 behind.
Every Liverpool employee knows the legends that preceded that one – the famous Anfield recoveries against Bruges and Saint-Etienne in the 1970s; the Steven Gerrard goal, one of three in a second half against Olympiakos that transformed a likely group-stage exit into the launchpad of a Champions League-winning run completed in Istanbul.
Liverpool have long cultivated the idea of the comeback impulse as an inimitable part of the club’s character. It is the special pride of Anfield, too, a stadium where the atmosphere rouses like few others.
Player ratings from first leg
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REAL MADRID RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois - 6: Hardly any pressure was applied on the Belgian. He was confident on crosses and could do little for the goal. Getty -
Lucas Vazquez - 6: The right back was disciplined and ensured that Mane and Robertson found little joy down his wing. He played Salah onside for the goal. AFP -
Eder Militao - 7: The only real lapse in an assured performance was when Jota ran at him in the lead-up to Liverpool's goal. He easily dealt with Mane when the Senegalese drifted inside. EPA -
Nacho - 7: The 31-year-old was supposed to be a weak link in the injury-hit defence but excelled. He was calm, won most of his tackles and distributed the ball well. AP -
Ferland Mendy - 7: The Frenchman ranged down the left wing and produced a nice cross for Vinicius early on. He was more restrained in the second half and was largely untroubled defensively. AFP -
Luka Modric - 7: The Croat set the tempo from deep in the midfield. He provided the pass for the third goal and his class was obvious throughout. Getty -
Casemiro - 7: The Brazilian’s role was to bolster the defence and he swept up loose balls and cut out danger. His passing was at its best when he kept things simple. AFP -
Toni Kroos - 8: The German picked out Vinicius with a marvellous long ball to open the scoring and tested the defence with his passing. He was behind most of Real’s best work. EPA -
Marco Asensio - 7: The 25-year-old seized on a defensive mistake and scored the second goal with aplomb. He wasted a dangerous counter attack in the second half and was replaced by Valverde after 70 minutes. Getty -
Karim Benzema - 7: The Frenchman was not allowed any real opportunities but contributed some astute passing and movement to create space for team-mates. AFP -
Vinicius Junior - 8: The 20-year-old scored two and caused havoc with his direct running. His first strike showed marvellous technique and his second showed the value of shooting early. The damage to Liverpool was done by the time he was withdrawn for Rodrygo with five minutes left. Getty -
SUBS: Federico Valverde - 6: The Uruguayan came on for Asenio with 20 minutes left. He brought energy to the midfield and helped see the game out. AP -
Rodrygo - 5: The 20-year-old replaced Vinicius for the final five minutes. He ran hard but did not have enough time to make a significant impact. Getty -
LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 4: The Brazilian was let down by his defenders for the first two goals but should have done much better on the third. AFP -
Trent Alexander-Arnold - 3: A terrible first half for the 22-year-old. He should have been more aware for the first goal and his misplaced header set up the second. Better after half time but a bad night overall. AFP -
Nathaniel Phillips - 4: The centre back was effective in the air but his flaws were exposed by Real. He was caught in no-man’s land for Vinicius’ opener and was too far away from the Brazilian striker for the third goal. EPA -
Ozan Kabak - 4: The Turk started well and was alert to early danger. He lost composure as the defence struggled and was lucky not to be embarrassed by a mishit back pass. Replaced by Firmino with nine minutes left. AFP -
Andrew Robertson - 5: The Scot was the best of Liverpool’s defenders but the bar was low. He lacked his usual zest and was ineffective going forward. Getty -
Fabinho - 4: The Brazilian never got to the pace of the Real midfield. He was unusually static and easily bypassed by the home side's crisp passing. PA -
Georginio Wijnaldum - 4: The Dutchman gave away possession too often. He had a brief flurry in the second half and contributed to his team’s goal but then backslid into anonymity. AP -
Naby Keita - 2: A dreadful performance. The Guinean contributed little to the game and was dragged off before half time and replaced by Thiago. His time at Anfield is running out. AP -
Mohamed Salah - 6: The Egyptian hardly touched the ball for 51 minutes but took his chance and scored when the opportunity arose. He tried his best to eke out another goal but was starved of service. AFP -
Diogo Jota - 5: The Portuguese dropped too deep in the first half but his direct run and blocked shot brought Liverpool back into the game when the ball fell to Salah. Taken off for Firmino in the 81st minute. AFP -
Sadio Mane - 4: The Senegalese seemed to do everything in slow motion. He looks badly in need of a prolonged rest. Even on bad days he has been a handful this season but the Real defence were unworried by his presence. AFP -
SUBS: Thiago Alcantara - 4: The 29-year-old replaced Keita before half time and improved the side but he was unable to wrest the impetus from Real. He was lucky to get away with an ill-advised attempt to control the ball on his chest in his own area. PA -
Roberto Firmino - 4: The Brazilian tried to get on the ball after entering the game for Jota with nine minutes left but he only found blind alleys. AFP -
Xherdan Shaqiri - 4: Joined the action for Kabak in the 81st minute. The Swiss saw a lot of the ball and made a lot of sideways passes. EPA
But take the spectators and the songs away, as a public health crisis has done, and Anfield loses its aura. Five of the last six home league games have been defeats. “We cannot take comebacks for granted, especially with no crowd,” said Klopp. “We have to create our own atmosphere. We have to bring ourselves into a mood where we start believing. Having no supporters is just one extra problem.”
The other problems in a season of deflating hopes are well chronicled. Injuries mean every fixture features a makeshift back four.
Madrid, with their finessed counter-attacking, pulled the Liverpool defence out of shape again and again last week. None of the senior central defenders, Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez or Joel Matip are available because of long-term injury, nor is Jordan Henderson fit to patrol the area in front of the defensive understudies.
Madrid, though, are hardly in better health. Sergio Ramos and Rafa Varane, first-choice central pairing, are both out quarantining. Neither Dani Carvaval nor Lucas Vazquez are available at right-back. "We're at the limit physically," said Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane after a tiring Real just held on to a 2-1 win over Barcelona at the weekend.
“They have had an intense season and injuries,” acknowledged Klopp. “We are the same. But I am 100 per cent sure they will be 100 cent ready. What we have to do is clear – play like our best selves.
“We have to defend at our absolute highest level, and that’s what we didn’t do the other night. But I’ve no idea if any team in the world can prevent Madrid from having any chances.”
He drew special attention to Vinicius Junior, whose speed and two goals swung the first leg Madrid’s way. “An outstanding talent,” Klopp said of the 20-year-old Brazilian. “Everybody knew that before [his brace against Liverpool], so I was impressed but not surprised. We have to avoid the passes made in his direction, which is a big task.
“A clean sheet will be very important. But if we can create more than we did in Madrid – which should be possible, as we didn’t create a lot – then we’ll see.”
Liverpool 2 Aston Villa 1: player ratings
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LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 6: The Brazilian should have done much better for Villa’s goal. He was safe enough otherwise and his distribution was good. PA -
Trent Alexander-Arnold - 8: The 22-year-old was excellent on the ball and went close with a free kick before popping up for the crucial winning goal. He had some tough moments defensively but rose to the challenge. EPA -
Nathaniel Phillips - 5: The centre back’s lack of pace was exposed by Watkins but he held his own in the tackle. He is a reassuring presence in the air but not so much on the ground. AP -
Ozan Kabak - 4: The Turk looked nervous from the first minute and gave the ball away before the Villa goal. He never regained authority. He was replaced by Shaqiri with a minute to go. AP -
Andrew Robertson - 7: The Scot has suffered a dip in form recently but he was close to his best against Villa. His shot led to the equaliser and his driving runs were effective again and again. Reuters -
Fabinho - 7: The Brazilian set the tone for the midfield, sparking attacks from deep and cutting out any threat. He produced a composed and clever display. PA -
Georginio Wijnaldum - 5: The Dutchman was wasteful in possession and lacked his usual vigour. His touch was too heavy when he could have freed Salah in the area. Taken off for Thiago with 20 minutes left. Reuters -
James Milner - 6: The 35-year-old no longer has the strongest engine but his experience and workrate were impressive. He provided leadership and was a calming presence. PA -
Mohamed Salah - 7: The Egyptian seemed a bit unnerved after missing an early chance but he regained his composure to score the equaliser. He again showed off his knack of being in the right place at the critical moment. Reuters -
Roberto Firmino - 7: The Brazilian was lively and his movement worried the defence. He was unfortunate to have a goal disallowed for offside earlier in the move. He made way for Mane with 15 minutes left. Reuters -
Diogo Jota - 6: The Portuguese was a threat throughout but should have hit the target with a header from a corner. He was not as clinical as usual. Reuters -
SUBS: Thiago Alcantara - 7: The 29-year-old replaced Wijnaldum with 20 minutes left and made the most of his time on the pitch. His passing was precise and he forced a great save from Martinez just seconds before the winning goal. PA -
Sadio Mane - 4: The Senegalese joined the action with 15 minutes to go in place of Firmino but never got to the pace of the game. He was loose with possession as his team tried to turn up the pressure. PA -
Xherdan Shaqiri - 6: It looked like another fruitless cameo for the Swiss when he replaced Kabak with a minute to go but he managed to influence the game by playing a part in the lead-up to the winning goal. EPA -
ASTON VILLA RATINGS: Emiliano Martinez - 6: The Argentinian made a spectacular save from Thiago just seconds before Alexander-Arnold scored the winner. He might feel he could have palmed Robertson’s shot into a less dangerous area on the equaliser. EPA -
Matty Cash - 5: The 23-year-old showed plenty of enterprise but had a tendency to get dragged out of position. He was relieved to see Firmino’s goal ruled out for offside after failing to cut out the diagonal pass in the build-up. Getty -
Ezri Konsa - 6: The 23-year-old was solid and produced a number of blocks and challenges to stop Liverpool attacks. He could have scored, too, but sent a free header directly at Alisson. Getty -
Tyrone Mings - 5: The centre back was lucky to get away with letting the ball slip under his boot and he can be a liability when he tries to kick with his weaker right foot. He is a battler, though, and proved it with a number of clearances. AP -
Matt Targett - 6: The left back acquitted himself well against Salah. His set-piece delivery that created a chance for Konsa was excellent and he looked a threat going forward. AFP -
Douglas Luiz - 4: The Brazilian was pushed into a more upfield role than usual and had little influence on the game. He allowed his compatriot Fabinho too much time and space in the midfield. Getty -
Marvelous Nakamba - 7: The Zimbabwean shielded the defence effectively and nicked the ball from Firmino just as the striker looked set to shoot. He was good in possession, too. Surprisingly replaced by Barkley with 24 minutes left. AFP -
Bertrand Traore - 4: The winger was peripheral and disappointing. He gave the ball away much too often, especially when attempting crossfield passes. Substituted with 22 minutes remaining when El Ghazil came on. AP -
John McGinn - 6: The Scot provided a delicate pass to Watkins for the goal and his muscular presence worried Liverpool. He dropped deeper when Barkley came on and stopped having an impact on the game. Getty -
Trezeguet - 6: The Egyptian went close to restoring Villa’s lead in the second half when he hit the inside of the post. He worked hard until limping off in the 82nd minute to be replaced by Ramsey. AP -
Ollie Watkins - 7: The striker was a real handful. He took his goal well, pressed hard and won the ball in the air. With proper supply and support he might have had much more success. Reuters -
Ross Barkley - 4: The midfielder replaced Nakamba in the 66th minute and had chances to stamp his authority on the match. He shot tamely at Alisson and dithered on the edge of the box and allowed another opportunity to disappear. AFP -
Anwar El Ghazi - 4: The Dutchman came on for Traore and was as disappointing as the man he replaced. He did very little in his 22 minutes on the pitch. Reuters -
Jacob Ramsey - 5: The 19-year-old was sent on when Trezeguet was injured with eight minutes left. He attempted to be positive but might have done more to put Alexander-Arnold under pressure before the winning goal. AFP
