Jurgen Klopp claims Liverpool were passive in Champions League defeat against Real Madrid | OneFootball

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has attributed his side’s Champions League defeat at the hands of defending champions Real Madrid to passiveness in crucial moments.

Goals from Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah saw Liverpool race to a commanding lead inside 14 minutes before two goals apiece from Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema on either side of Eder Militao’s header completed a superb turnaround.

Speaking after the game, an evidently-frustrated Klopp bemoaned his side’s lack of enthusiasm after going two up.

“The beginning was outstanding – it was in a nutshell, how we wanted to play,” Klopp told BT Sport.

“We caused problems all over the place, our reading of the game, a super intense start, 2-0 up.

“The first goal (we conceded), we became a bit passive, slightly higher up the pitch.

“We were not chasing them and we had to chase them because this is a team that when you get passive you get punished and we realised in that moment.

“Yeah, the second goal is slapstick; it should not happen, can happen, and it’s 2-2.

“In possession, you have to keep the ball but in the second half especially we lost balls in strange moments.

“First half we played in the half-spaces sensationally well and second half the wrong players were in the half-spaces – we played the ball there and they could win it.”

Despite having a three-goal deficit to make up in the return leg, Klopp is not ruling Liverpool out just yet but he is wary of the Reds being hit on the break as they now have to chase the tie in Spain.

“We will go to Madrid and play a football game,” the German added.

“If we have to score goals there, each counter-attack will be an opportunity for them – we have to learn from tonight.”