Football News: Klopp refuses to rule out Liverpool comeback against Real Madrid

Even after Real Madrid's humiliating 5-2 victory over Liverpool at Anfield, Jurgen Klopp is optimistic of the 2nd Leg. Liverpool were on cloud nine when Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah gave them a 2-0 lead after 15 minutes.

They were seeking some sort of retribution against Los Blancos for their loss in the 2021-22 championship game. With a pair of goals just before halftime, Vinicius Junior gave the champions a goal back, but Los Blancos ripped Jurgen Klopp's team apart in the second period.

Real Madrid soon took the lead thanks to a header from Eder Militao, and Karim Benzema's brace. Thus, Liverpool suffered their worst-ever home defeat in Europe.

In order for Liverpool to improbably proceed to the quarterfinals on March 15, they must now defeat Real Madrid by four goals. Klopp acknowledged after the game that he believes the match is currently "finished."

The Reds manager, though, urged his team to accomplish the unbelievable in the Spanish city, saying:

"I think Carlo thinks the tie is over, and I think it as well in this moment. But in three weeks..."

Nunez's cunning backheel flick came before Salah scored a record-breaking 42nd goal for Liverpool in Europe, capitalising on Thibaut Courtois' gaffe to increase Liverpool's lead.

Soon after, Alisson Becker would commit an equally appalling act of goalkeeping, trying to play out from the back but only hitting Vinicius in the studs, who saw the ball loop into the goal after striking it brilliantly with the bottom corner.

Militao scored off a Luka Modric free kick just two minutes after the restart, and then Benzema added a fourth with a shot that was deflected off Joe Gomez. In the 67th minute, the Frenchman completed the scoring by shooting into an empty net.

"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.

"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."

When Liverpool travels to Crystal Palace for their Premier League match on Saturday, they'll try to get back on track right away. Meanwhile, Real and Atletico Madrid will square off this weekend in the Madrid derby.

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