Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has admitted that his side played into Real Madrid's hands during their 5-2 Champions League last-16 first leg defeat, but he has insisted that the tie is not dead and buried just yet.
Seeking a slice of revenge over Los Blancos for their defeat in the 2021-22 final, Liverpool were on cloud nine when Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah fired them into a 2-0 lead with 15 minutes gone.
However, Vinicius Junior restored parity for the champions with a brace before half time, and Carlo Ancelotti's champions carved Klopp's side open at will in the second half.
Eder Militao quickly headed Real Madrid in front, before Karim Benzema netted a brace in front of the travelling fans to subject Liverpool to their worst-ever defeat at home in Europe.
Liverpool must now win by four goals at the Santiago Bernabeu on March 15 to miraculously advance to the quarter-finals, and Klopp admitted after the game that he thinks that the tie is most likely "over" right now.
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However, the Reds boss challenged his players to produce the unthinkable in the Spanish capital, saying in his press conference: "I think Carlo thinks the tie is over, and I think it as well in this moment. But in three weeks..."
Nunez's cheeky backheel flick preceded a record-breaking 42nd European Liverpool goal for Salah, who capitalised on a howler from Thibaut Courtois to double Liverpool's advantage.
Alisson Becker would produce an equally horrific piece of goalkeeping not long after, attempting to play out from the back but only finding the studs of Vinicius, who witnessed the ball loop into the goal having already found the bottom corner with a stunning effort.
Just two minutes after the restart, Militao headed home from Luka Modric's free kick, before Benzema added a fourth with a deflected shot off Joe Gomez, and the Frenchman rounded off the scoring by firing home into an empty net in the 67th minute.
"The beginning was outstanding. It was us in a nutshell. It was perfect, exactly how we wanted to play. The whole first half was good beside the goals," Klopp added to BT Sport.
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"The first goal we became slightly passive higher up the pitch, we weren't chasing them. The second goal is slapstick. It shouldn't happen, can happen, 2-2.
"We couldn't continue the momentum. We played completely into their hands. At 3-2 it was the opposite. They became more confident and scored great goals. One was deflected. That's how it is. It's a strange one.
"There's a lot for me to take from this as well. We have five or six players and no challenge [for one of the goals]. That can't happen. We were passive until the ball arrived there.
"We will go there [the Bernabeu] and play a football game. It will be a massive challenge. But we have to play in the Premier League first and make sure we learn from this game."
Liverpool will endeavour to bounce back immediately when they travel to Crystal Palace for Saturday's Premier League contest, while Real tackle Atletico Madrid in the Madrid derby this weekend.
Ben Knapton
