Forces left Klopp’s team.
Movement is life
When everything is lost in the league, and the season as a whole is turning out to be a crisis, but everyone believes in your prowess and the miracle of the Champions League, you can bet on this particular tournament, load yourself up like a match of a lifetime and go out to gnaw the earth. It was with this attitude that Liverpool went into the match against Real Madrid, who at first looked like a professor who came out to solve a problem for which they had been given three hours. Liverpool twitched as if given 15 minutes to move milestones.
In the first 25 minutes of the game, it looked like we were looking at the best example of Liverpool. With this crotch pressure that doesn’t allow you to lift your head and breathe freely, with this crazy movement of robots, not people. Madrid trampled and crushed. The goal in the fourth minute was not only surprising in its speed, but was also scored intelligently, with a back-heel. Did anyone remember him after the final whistle? NO.
Yes, and the second goal was the result of pressure, which confused Courtois. The more experienced Belgian made a childish mistake and gave the ball to Salah. Could the sad and frustrated Thibault then think how different his feelings would be after the final whistle? NO. It seems that Real Madrid fans at that time also sinned with the thought that Real Madrid would quickly leave the tournament.
The midfield itself, which would later fail many Real Madrid attacks, ripped and repressed in the first half of the game, buoyed by an elastic attack and aggressive defence. This movement made Klopp’s signature style, made Jurgen’s Liverpool recognizable and successful. But there is one “but”. Liverpool can only play like this sporadically this season. And even in the last successful matches, the Reds gave their opponents a chance. And Real Madrid are not the kind of team that needs so many chances to save themselves.
Guilt mode
Talking about a breakthrough in the game, people, depending on the degree of attention, taste preferences and personal biases, will cling to various episodes of the second half of the first half. Let’s go in order. And here is Vinicius’ goal, literally out of nowhere. At the time of this goal, Real had nothing, they were inferior in movement on all lines. But the Brazilian managed a good dribble at the right moment – and this is pure skill of the performer.
However, even this goal did not immediately reverse the trend. Liverpool, perhaps, have sensed that something was wrong, they have become a little more attentive, remembering how they can be wrong. And, perhaps, the game would have moved in a more measured and tactical direction. But no less great goalkeeper Courtois decided in the same match to respond to Thibaut with courtesy.
Alisson’s execution on Vinicius’ foot was a monstrous blunder that psychologically broke the Reds. Just before that they could have scored a third, when Eder almost pulled off the tape. And then they squandered all the superiority from scratch. At that time, Real Madrid had a kind of meager xG, which is customary to pray for in the modern world. Equal scoring on the board felt inherently unfair. But let’s not get into clichés such as reasoning about the realization of possibilities.
Another important episode for the turning point of the match occurred between Vinicius’ goals. This is Alaba’s replacement for Nacho. David was hurt, which in itself is annoying. But it was his side that was completely suppressed by Salah and Trent, where Liverpool found maximum game advantage. Nacho more or less filled that gap right after release, and this is where every cloud has a silver lining. Liverpool lost not only psychological confidence, but also the loophole found at the beginning of the match.
Benzema mode
Of course, during the break, the flamboyant Klopp couldn’t find the right words to charge the team again to start the battle all over again. But Ancelotti did not need such accusations. Willy-nilly, he coached Real Madrid for such scenarios last season’s Champions League. And from the very beginning, even from the score of 0:2, there was no supernatural task for the Madrid team. Yes, Liverpool also had save scenarios. But that team had enough strength to “gegenpressing” not for 25 minutes, but for more than 90 minutes. This team has disappeared.
Real Madrid didn’t need to play crazy combinations, make incredible snaps or make crazy shots. The Madrid team, even in its measured mode, symbolized by the reassuring expression on Benzema’s face, found gaps in Liverpool’s facilities without much pressure. And he lost his mobility in the middle of the field, where Baicetic and Fabinho began to lose everything, including Real Madrid’s scoring attacks.
He has lost density in defense and, at the same time, concentration. Gomez’s own foul was a consequence. And the way the free kick was played only exacerbated the picture. The “Reds” were “divorced” as children. And the great van Dijk looked after Eder’s goal. Liverpool looked like a loose build. The same object that was a monolithic brick that squeezed the opponent’s fingers in the first half turned into a soft painted sponge, easily pierced and squeezed with a finger. An incredible transformation that usually happened to Klopp’s team during the season.
On the other hand, Benzema, who seemed to have slept through the entire first half of the game, now remembered his role as the executioner and ended Liverpool’s hopes with a cold-blooded brace. Of course, we remember these heroic deeds of the Reds. Let’s remember how Real can be wrong. But somehow it’s hard to believe that Liverpool can find the strength in Madrid to play the whole game like they did at Anfield for just 25 minutes.
