As Liverpool prepare to face Real Madrid in Saturday’s Champions League final, Jurgen Klopp has looked back on their painful defeat to this weekend’s opponents back in 2018.
The Reds lost 3-1 in Kyiv to Madrid, who won the competition for the third year in the bounce, after two mistakes from goalkeeper Loris Karius led to goals, as well as Gareth Bale’s world class overhead kick.
Speaking to BT Sport, Klopp has reflected on the gut-wrenching defeat, claiming that the Reds had a number of issues going into the game and admitting that it was a ‘tragic night’ for Karius.
Jurgen Klopp’s side will be hoping to avoid a repeat of their gut-wrenching loss to Real Madrid
The Reds lost 3-1 to Real Madrid in 2018 after two errors from the keeper and a world-class goal
Klopp has opened up on the ‘tragic’ night for Loris Karius who has not played for them since
‘We all agree we played a good final and then this happens,’ Klopp said as he was watching Karius’ first mistake of the night.
The German attempted to throw the ball out only for Benzema to stick out a leg and kick the ball home into an empty net.
Klopp added: ‘In this moment, there was so many things that came together. We had injuries, could not change like we wanted to, players coming back from injuries only shortly before the game and had to change them.
Karius gifted Real Madrid the lead by throwing the ball straight to Karim Benzema
He then fumbled Bale’s long-range effort which effectively sealed the game for Real Madrid
‘I think Adam Lallana came on but in a different position so these things aren’t helpful in final.’
Sadio Mane levelled the game for Liverpool after 55 minutes, before Bale scored a world-class overhead kick to put Madrid back ahead nine minutes later.
Despite his sensational goal that day, Real Madrid fans have not warmed to the Welshman who is set to leave the club at the end of the season.
In regards to Bale, Klopp said: ‘I mean people in Madrid don’t love him. I would love him only for this goal if I were a Madrid fan I cannot believe that.’
Klopp then watched on the television the second mistake made by Karius who fumbled the ball from a long-range Bale strike into the back of the net.
He said: ‘And now this one as well. We all know, we don’t have to make this story bigger that was of course a tragic situation 100%.
‘Loris Karius is a really good boy and that night didn’t help we have to say as everything we do happens in public. The whole world builds an opinion on us constantly, usually it’s not important. If people think about me ‘what an idiot’ or whatever, it’s no problem as I feel fine.
Gareth Bale is not revered by Real Madrid fans despite his world-class goal against Liverpool
‘But if you feel about yourself, god how could I do it, and the world is going for you, that is really harsh and that was the case for Loris.’
Karius has never played a competitive game for the Reds since, and despite a few loans spells away from the club, he is still contracted at Anfield until this summer and is expected to leave.
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah was keen to play Real Madrid in this year’s final as he looks for revenge from 2018.
In another crushing moment for the Reds in Kyiv, Salah was forced to come off early after a tangle with Sergio Ramos.
Liverpool are hoping to win their third trophy of the season after winning both the Carabao and FA Cup.
While the Reds were fighting for everything in the last few weeks of the season, Madrid could relax after winning the LaLiga title with four games to spare.
When asked about playing every possible game this season, Klopp said: ‘It makes it more difficult. Madrid were champions what four weeks ago?
Mohamed Salah is keen for revenge after he went off in the 2018 final early with an injury
Liverpool are hoping to clinch a memorable treble after winning the Carabao and FA Cup
‘Bit of rotation here, good weather in Spain, play here a few minutes, play there a few minutes. In that time we went for absolutely everything, we played a cup final, all Premier League games were cup finals we had to win. It’s fine.
‘Normally the reason nobody wins that amount of trophies each season is because it’s really difficult.
‘We are looking forward to it, I couldn’t have more energy. It’s unbelievable, we are here, we want to go for it and we’re absolutely fine. We will put out a team and give them an absolute fight.’
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