No miracle for lacklustre Liverpool
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Trent Alexander-Arnold slides in on Vinicius Junior as Liverpool crashed out of the Champions League to Real Madrid
Maybe, simply perhaps, if Darwin Nunez’s early shot from Mohamed Salah’s cross had been somewhat nearer to both nook. There have been 83 minutes nonetheless to play at that time. Plenty of time for a miracle. But by the top Jurgen Klopp was in no temper for ‘if onlys’.
“That is hypothetical,” he informed BT Sport matter-of-factly. “We ready for a particular efficiency, however we weren’t in a position to put it on the pitch tonight. It was apparent the most effective facet went via.”
Karim Benzema’s late objective sealed it however that was not the primary time Real Madrid had carved Liverpool open. In reality, they tried practically twice as many photographs as they did within the recreation at Anfield, producing the next whole of anticipated targets too.
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Liverpool had Alisson to thank for a string of nice saves towards Real Madrid
Liverpool have been indebted for Alisson to protecting the scores stage earlier than Benzema’s opener, the Brazilian making a string of nice saves as Carlo Ancelotti’s facet, once more, uncovered the defensive vulnerability that has turn into such a function of their performances.
Of course, the tie was pretty much as good as over after their first-leg capitulation. Liverpool are able to particular issues on the European stage however defeat to Bournemouth had sapped any optimism created by the 7-0 win over Manchester United.
There have been sparkles of promise within the first half, with Courtois compelled into motion on a number of events, however Liverpool’s lacklustre second half, regardless of having 4 forwards on the pitch, felt extra reflective of their efficiency as a complete.
In that interval, as Madrid confirmed the mix of composure and high quality that makes them such a drive on this competitors, Liverpool pale, mustering just one shot on objective between the interval and the bitter finish. All that’s left now’s a struggle for the highest 4.
Nick Wright
Who can cease holders Real?
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Karim Benzema celebrates with Vinicius Junior after Real Madrid’s winner within the second leg towards Liverpool
Real Madrid are the staff to beat within the Champions League, if it wasn’t apparent already.
The knock-out specialists obtained the job achieved towards Liverpool. A 5-2 lead should not have been something to fret about and Real made certain it wasn’t. The holders have a solution to every part.
The guests tried to out-gun them but shot a clean. Instead, Real might have received by a bigger margin had Karim Benzema introduced his taking pictures boots. He nonetheless discovered the online with out them.
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Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring for Real Madrid within the second leg
Alisson confirmed his Anfield nightmare was a blip, saving Liverpool time after time. Ultimately, the harm had been achieved in a shocking second half in the course of the first leg.
Who can cease them now? Napoli might pose them some totally different questions if the draw falls that approach but there’s little the skilled backbone of Thibaut Courtois, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Karim Benzema have not come throughout.
Bayern Munich and Man City can even pose tough assessments however Real have crushed them earlier than and might do it once more. You definitely would not again towards it.
David Richardson
De Bruyne ‘retains it easy’ to glitter
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Kevin De Bruyne delivered an announcement efficiency for Man City towards RB Leipzig
The evening belonged to Erling Haaland however Kevin De Bruyne was the co-star.
Pep Guardiola had urged the midfielder to “preserve it easy” to rediscover his kind. “When the straightforward issues are achieved completely and we’re in the proper second, the actions to create unimaginable passes that he – solely he – can discover, it will likely be simpler, it will likely be higher,” mentioned the City boss.
But little about his efficiency regarded easy. It was explosive. De Bruyne was in every single place, continuously roaming to get the ball. He charged via midfield unleashing a thunderbolt that crashed off the crossbar and completely for Haaland to move in.
Only the City defenders had greater than De Bruyne’s 75 touches. Bernardo Silva had 19 fewer regardless of enjoying the identical quantity of minutes. He delivered 14 crosses as Leipzig crumbled beneath the relentless stress.
“Kevin is a participant for the dynamics. If he does not have the dynamic or actions he isn’t a participant who receives the ball within the pockets and might cease,” mentioned Guardiola after the rout. “He’s a man who exterior, inside, assault right here, assault there. Make the transitions, press excessive.
“When it occurs, the assists come free, the targets come free.”
It was becoming De Bruyne curled in a scrumptious seventh within the closing minute to cap his assertion efficiency, simply when the doubters had been circling after beginning on the bench for 3 of City’s final seven Premier League video games.
This was De Bruyne “protecting it easy”.
David Richardson
When is the draw?
The attracts for the quarter-finals and semi-finals happen at 11am UK time on Friday March 17 in Nyon, Switzerland at UEFA’s headquarters.
The eight last-16 winners are concerned in an open quarter-final and semi-final draw.
There aren’t any seedings and no nation safety, so golf equipment can face opposition from the identical nation. They may also draw groups they beforehand performed within the group stage.
A closing draw can even happen to find out the ‘residence’ facet for administrative causes for the showpiece occasion in Istanbul, Turkey on June 10.
You can comply with the draw with Sky Sports’ dwell weblog, so you’ll be able to preserve throughout every part proper right here.
