Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp saw his side struggle to contain Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. AFP
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp saw his side struggle to contain Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. AFP
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp saw his side struggle to contain Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. AFP
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp saw his side struggle to contain Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. AFP

Sport

Football

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp: Real Madrid were the better team and deserve to go through

Reds exit Champions League at last-16 stage following 6-2 aggregate defeat

Steve Luckings
Steve Luckings

March 16, 2023

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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp conceded his side were second best against Real Madrid following their meek exit from the Champions League on Wednesday.

Karim Benzema’s 78th-minute goal gave the hosts a 1-0 victory on the night but all the damage had been done in the first leg, which Liverpool lost 5-2.

“It’s true. We came here with the backpack we had with the three goals difference, and you need a special performance and we did not show a special performance tonight,” he said.

“In moments it was a good performance but Real Madrid were the team in control for most of the game. They had the better chances.

“Ali [goalkeeper Alisson Becker] had to make two sensational saves to keep us in the game and that’s the reason [we lost].

“If you want to get through, you need to be outstanding. If you want to win the game, you need to be really good, and Madrid was the better team and that’s why the right team went through to the next round.”

Real Madrid v Liverpool ratings

REAL MADRID RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois – 7. Made some strong saves to deny Nunez and Gakpo and came out to collect balls well. Recovered after dropping Robertson’s free-kick delivery. AP
REAL MADRID RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois – 7. Made some strong saves to deny Nunez and Gakpo and came out to collect balls well. Recovered after dropping Robertson’s free-kick delivery. AP
Dani Carvajal – 6. Got himself out of trouble after a mistake and went on to do a good job defensively, even if he did needlessly concede a corner with a bizarre header. AP
Dani Carvajal – 6. Got himself out of trouble after a mistake and went on to do a good job defensively, even if he did needlessly concede a corner with a bizarre header. AP
Eder Militao – 7. Put in a strong display after getting away with a poor pass, notably cutting out Salah’s pass in a dangerous position. AP
Eder Militao – 7. Put in a strong display after getting away with a poor pass, notably cutting out Salah’s pass in a dangerous position. AP
Antonio Rudiger – 7. Clumsy in the build-up to Liverpool’s early chance but was often in the right place after that. Had some promising moments going forward with a header to Vinicius before making a good run and pass to Nacho. AFP
Antonio Rudiger – 7. Clumsy in the build-up to Liverpool’s early chance but was often in the right place after that. Had some promising moments going forward with a header to Vinicius before making a good run and pass to Nacho. AFP
Nacho Fernandez – 7. Stretched by Salah at times but put in a determined display to ensure Los Blancos kept a clean sheet. Reuters
Nacho Fernandez – 7. Stretched by Salah at times but put in a determined display to ensure Los Blancos kept a clean sheet. Reuters
Luka Modric – 8. Smashed a rocket over the crossbar but was his usual elegant self, notably flicking the ball over Alexander-Arnold’s head and delivering a brilliant cross for Valverde. PA
Luka Modric – 8. Smashed a rocket over the crossbar but was his usual elegant self, notably flicking the ball over Alexander-Arnold’s head and delivering a brilliant cross for Valverde. PA
Eduardo Camavinga – 9. Brilliant to watch in the middle of the pitch with some lovely passing, including the ball that split Liverpool open for the goal. Unlucky to see his shot from range tipped onto the crossbar. Reuters
Eduardo Camavinga – 9. Brilliant to watch in the middle of the pitch with some lovely passing, including the ball that split Liverpool open for the goal. Unlucky to see his shot from range tipped onto the crossbar. Reuters
Toni Kroos – 7. Played a couple of poor passes when there were opportunities to play the forwards through but helped the hosts control large parts of the game. PA
Toni Kroos – 7. Played a couple of poor passes when there were opportunities to play the forwards through but helped the hosts control large parts of the game. PA
Federico Valverde – 5. Wasteful in promising positions, with some disappointing shots being denied, an underwhelming cross being blocked by Van Dijk and a header going over. Did show plenty of energy. PA
Federico Valverde – 5. Wasteful in promising positions, with some disappointing shots being denied, an underwhelming cross being blocked by Van Dijk and a header going over. Did show plenty of energy. PA
Karim Benzema – 7. Had some disappointing moments but eventually came good when he poked the ball home for the winner on the night. AFP
Karim Benzema – 7. Had some disappointing moments but eventually came good when he poked the ball home for the winner on the night. AFP
Vinicius Junior – 7. Played some great passes to get Benzema into promising positions, even if his ball for the goal wasn’t quite as eye catching. Brought out some lovely tricks. Getty
Vinicius Junior – 7. Played some great passes to get Benzema into promising positions, even if his ball for the goal wasn’t quite as eye catching. Brought out some lovely tricks. Getty
SUBS: Rodrygo (Benzema 82’) – N/R. Did well to get into the box but ultimately saw his shot blocked by Tsimikas. Reuters
SUBS: Rodrygo (Benzema 82’) – N/R. Did well to get into the box but ultimately saw his shot blocked by Tsimikas. Reuters
Dani Ceballos (Modric 82’) – N/R. Looked very confident and played the ball through for Lucas Vazquez to tee up Rodrygo for his chance. AP
Dani Ceballos (Modric 82’) – N/R. Looked very confident and played the ball through for Lucas Vazquez to tee up Rodrygo for his chance. AP
Marco Asensio (Vinicius 84’) – N/R. Came on late as Real Madrid comfortably saw out the game. Getty
Marco Asensio (Vinicius 84’) – N/R. Came on late as Real Madrid comfortably saw out the game. Getty
Aurelien Tchouameni (Kroos 84’) – N/R. Slotted into the midfield as Real maintained control for most of the latter stages. Getty
Aurelien Tchouameni (Kroos 84’) – N/R. Slotted into the midfield as Real maintained control for most of the latter stages. Getty
Lucas Vazquez (Carvajal 86’) – N/R. Did well to get into the box and tee up Rodrygo for his chance. Getty
Lucas Vazquez (Carvajal 86’) – N/R. Did well to get into the box and tee up Rodrygo for his chance. Getty
LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker – 8. Made superb saves to deny Vinicius and Camavinga, before rushing out to authoritatively halt Valverde. There was nothing he could do about the goal. AFP
LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker – 8. Made superb saves to deny Vinicius and Camavinga, before rushing out to authoritatively halt Valverde. There was nothing he could do about the goal. AFP
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 6. Showed ambition with his passes, even if they didn’t always come off. Had a tough task defending against Vinicius, although he showed great defensive instincts to block Benzema’s shot. EPA
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 6. Showed ambition with his passes, even if they didn’t always come off. Had a tough task defending against Vinicius, although he showed great defensive instincts to block Benzema’s shot. EPA
Ibrahima Konate – 7. Started well with a couple of good early interventions and continued to have strong moments throughout. Hit a wild shot on the turn. AP
Ibrahima Konate – 7. Started well with a couple of good early interventions and continued to have strong moments throughout. Hit a wild shot on the turn. AP
Virgil van Dijk – 6. Did brilliantly to cut out Valverde’s ball but it can be argued he wasn’t alert enough for the goal. PA
Virgil van Dijk – 6. Did brilliantly to cut out Valverde’s ball but it can be argued he wasn’t alert enough for the goal. PA
Andrew Robertson – 6. Could consider himself unlucky at times, having delivered some great crosses that nobody latched onto and lost control after cutting out Militao’s pass. Reuters
Andrew Robertson – 6. Could consider himself unlucky at times, having delivered some great crosses that nobody latched onto and lost control after cutting out Militao’s pass. Reuters
Fabinho – 5. Played some sloppy passes at times, as was epitomised when he delivered an overhit cross when there were plenty of red shirts in Real’s box. AP
Fabinho – 5. Played some sloppy passes at times, as was epitomised when he delivered an overhit cross when there were plenty of red shirts in Real’s box. AP
James Milner – 6. Showed plenty of energy and flew out to make blocks, as well as putting in a big tackle on Camavinga. However, he couldn’t do enough to get Liverpool going. EPA
James Milner – 6. Showed plenty of energy and flew out to make blocks, as well as putting in a big tackle on Camavinga. However, he couldn’t do enough to get Liverpool going. EPA
Cody Gakpo – 6. Put in a lot of good defensive work to help the team, including dispossessing Benzema in his own box, but couldn’t get a clean connection on his header and saw a strong shot saved. AP
Cody Gakpo – 6. Put in a lot of good defensive work to help the team, including dispossessing Benzema in his own box, but couldn’t get a clean connection on his header and saw a strong shot saved. AP
Mohamed Salah – 6. Slipped Nunez through for an early chance and made some good runs behind, but played a terrible pass to Nunez in a dangerous position. EPA
Mohamed Salah – 6. Slipped Nunez through for an early chance and made some good runs behind, but played a terrible pass to Nunez in a dangerous position. EPA
Diogo Jota – 3. His miskicked effort from a cross into the box was poor and he often looked off the pace. AFP
Diogo Jota – 3. His miskicked effort from a cross into the box was poor and he often looked off the pace. AFP
Darwin Nunez – 6. Showed a willingness to work but was unable to take his early chance and saw a header saved. AFP
Darwin Nunez – 6. Showed a willingness to work but was unable to take his early chance and saw a header saved. AFP
SUBS: Harvey Elliott (Jota 57’) – 6. Tried to make things happen and was central to a nice piece of link-up play but also saw a tame shot blocked. PA
SUBS: Harvey Elliott (Jota 57’) – 6. Tried to make things happen and was central to a nice piece of link-up play but also saw a tame shot blocked. PA
Roberto Firmino (Nunez 57’) – 5. Willing to work for the team but never truly looked like making a notable difference. Getty
Roberto Firmino (Nunez 57’) – 5. Willing to work for the team but never truly looked like making a notable difference. Getty
Alex Oxlade Chamberlain (Milner 73’) – N/R. His expression after being unable to reach Robertson’s through ball epitomised Liverpool’s desperate situation. Getty
Alex Oxlade Chamberlain (Milner 73’) – N/R. His expression after being unable to reach Robertson’s through ball epitomised Liverpool’s desperate situation. Getty
Kostas Tsimikas (Robertson 91’) – N/R. Had an eventful cameo, blocking Rodrygo’s shot and being the topic of a lengthy VAR check when the ball subsequently hit his arm, then getting booked for catching Ceballos in the face with his hand. Getty
Kostas Tsimikas (Robertson 91’) – N/R. Had an eventful cameo, blocking Rodrygo’s shot and being the topic of a lengthy VAR check when the ball subsequently hit his arm, then getting booked for catching Ceballos in the face with his hand. Getty
Fabio Carvalho (Gakpo 91’) – N/R. Had a less eventful cameo with the game gone. PA
Fabio Carvalho (Gakpo 91’) – N/R. Had a less eventful cameo with the game gone. PA

Klopp loaded his side with attacking talent, with Diogo Jota complementing Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez.

The gamble failed to pay off though, with Nunez, who had their best two chances in the first half, and Jota shortly after half time.

“For Diogo it was clear he shouldn’t play extremely long as he is still coming back from a long, long injury and you could see the game got harder for him,” Klopp said.

“He made some fouls as he was coming late, so no risk for him. Darwin looked like he was not at the absolute top level as well and we needed to defend that side as well. We could change and we wanted to mix things up a bit.”

Title-holders Real Madrid join AC Milan, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Manchester City and Napoli in Friday's Champions League quarter-final draw.

PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES

Saturday (UAE kick-off times)

Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)

Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)

West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)

Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)

Sunday

Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)

Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)

Everton v Liverpool (10pm)

Monday

Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)

What is an ETF?

An exchange traded fund is a type of investment fund that can be traded quickly and easily, just like stocks and shares. They come with no upfront costs aside from your brokerage's dealing charges and annual fees, which are far lower than on traditional mutual investment funds. Charges are as low as 0.03 per cent on one of the very cheapest (and most popular), Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, with the maximum around 0.75 per cent.

There is no fund manager deciding which stocks and other assets to invest in, instead they passively track their chosen index, country, region or commodity, regardless of whether it goes up or down.

The first ETF was launched as recently as 1993, but the sector boasted $5.78 billion in assets under management at the end of September as inflows hit record highs, according to the latest figures from ETFGI, a leading independent research and consultancy firm.

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Ballon d’Or shortlists

Men

Sadio Mane (Senegal/Liverpool), Sergio Aguero (Aregentina/Manchester City), Frenkie de Jong (Netherlans/Barcelona), Hugo Lloris (France/Tottenham), Dusan Tadic (Serbia/Ajax), Kylian Mbappe (France/PSG), Trent Alexander-Arnold (England/Liverpool), Donny van de Beek (Netherlands/Ajax), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon/Arsenal), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Germany/Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Juventus), Alisson (Brazil/Liverpool), Matthijs de Ligt (Netherlands/Juventus), Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid), Georginio Wijnaldum (Netherlands/Liverpool), Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands/Liverpool), Bernardo Silva (Portugal/Manchester City), Son Heung-min (South Korea/Tottenham), Robert Lewandowski (Poland/Bayern Munich), Roberto Firmino (Brazil/Liverpool), Lionel Messi (Argentina/Barcelona), Riyad Mahrez (Algeria/Manchester City), Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium/Manchester City), Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal/Napoli), Antoine Griezmann (France/Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool), Eden Hazard (BEL/Real Madrid), Marquinhos (Brazil/Paris-SG), Raheem Sterling (Eengland/Manchester City), Joao Félix(Portugal/Atletico Madrid)

Women

Sam Kerr (Austria/Chelsea), Ellen White (England/Manchester City), Nilla Fischer (Sweden/Linkopings), Amandine Henry (France/Lyon), Lucy Bronze(England/Lyon), Alex Morgan (USA/Orlando Pride), Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands/Arsenal), Dzsenifer Marozsan (Germany/Lyon), Pernille Harder (Denmark/Wolfsburg), Sarah Bouhaddi (France/Lyon), Megan Rapinoe (USA/Reign FC), Lieke Martens (Netherlands/Barcelona), Sari van Veenendal (Netherlands/Atletico Madrid), Wendie Renard (France/Lyon), Rose Lavelle(USA/Washington Spirit), Marta (Brazil/Orlando Pride), Ada Hegerberg (Norway/Lyon), Kosovare Asllani (Sweden/CD Tacon), Sofia Jakobsson (Sweden/CD Tacon), Tobin Heath (USA/Portland Thorns)

 

 

KEY%20DATES%20IN%20AMAZON'S%20HISTORY
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE

1 Man City    26   20   3   3   63   17   63 

2 Liverpool   25   17   6   2   64   20    57 

3 Chelsea      25   14   8  3   49   18    50 

4 Man Utd    26   13   7  6   44   34    46 

----------------------------------------

5 West Ham   26   12   6   8   45   34    42 

----------------------------------------

6 Arsenal      23  13   3   7   36   26   42 

7 Wolves       24  12   4   8   23   18   40 

8 Tottenham  23  12   4   8   31   31   39  

In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff

Updated: March 16, 2023, 6:32 AM`
LiverpoolReal MadridChampions League