Jurgen Klopp eyes Liverpool revival ahead of Real revenge mission

Jurgen Klopp has urged Liverpool to turn their recent improvement into a season-saving revival as the Reds seek Champions League revenge against Real Madrid.

Klopp’s side are showing signs of finally breaking out of the spell that threatened to derail their entire campaign.

Liverpool have claimed back-to-back wins against Everton and Newcastle to give them fresh hope of a top-four finish in the Premier League.

Saturday’s 2-0 win at Newcastle moved Liverpool to within six points of the fourth-placed Magpies with a game in hand.

While it’s too early to say whether Klopp has found a cure for all that ails Liverpool during a traumatic season, he welcomes Real to Anfield for Tuesday’s last 16 clash with spirits undiminished.

Klopp will take this as the basis for starting Liverpool’s bid to win a second Champions League under the German.

Liverpool, who won it six times in Europe’s elite club competition, would have had more Champions League triumphs in the Klopp era had it not been for poor Real.

The Spanish giants beat Liverpool in the 2018 final, eliminated them in the 2021 quarter-finals and won last season’s final 1-0 in Paris thanks to a Vinicius Junior goal.

Liverpool have not beaten Real since their Champions League last 16 triumph in 2009.

Last year’s defeat was painful at the end of a failed quadruple chase, a quest that brought only FA Cup and League success and Klopp’s men struggled mentally and physically this season.

Bigger scars have been left by traumatized Liverpool fans after police used unnecessary force in ugly scenes outside the Stade de France before kick-off in the Champions League final.

The aftermath of the incident is still being felt and it will be a cathartic moment for Liverpool if they can end Real’s reign as holders.

It has not escaped the attention of Liverpool fans that this year’s Champions League final is in Istanbul, the scene of their victory against AC Milan in the 2005 exhibition.

– ‘Absolutely amazing’ –
Returning to the Ataturk Stadium will bring back sweet memories for the Reds, but first they have to get past Carlo Ancelotti’s men.

After a season blighted by defensive problems, Klopp took heart from Liverpool’s double clean sheet against Newcastle, a feat they have not achieved in the league since October.

“Massive, 100 percent. It explains a little bit the problems we had in the game that we couldn’t control better. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a situation like that,” said Klopp.

“It’s unfortunate that football is not like cycling, it’s always at the same level. It’s different. The only way you can get back on track is by winning.

“We’ve done it twice in a row now and it’s been amazing.”

After a bad run that featured embarrassing defeats at Brentford, Brighton (twice) and Wolves, Liverpool have given themselves the chance to get back on track.

Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo were the goalscorers against Newcastle, but he was most encouraged by the way Liverpool struggled to beat a team that threw forwards to find a way back into the game.

That togetherness, which is usually a trademark of Klopp’s teams, has not always been evident this season.

“We didn’t score the third and made the game fun. All credit to him, he made the right changes, he fought really hard,” Klopp said.

The only problem for Klopp ahead of the Real game was the shoulder injury Nunez picked up in a second-half collision with Kieran Trippier.

“Bad news, Darwin is on his shoulder. We will see. We need further assessment,” Klopp said.

“I don’t know right now. It hurts right now, but I hope it’s just a pain and nothing more.”

For once, not even another injury problem could dampen Klopp’s spirits as Liverpool looked into Real’s revenge match with confidence.

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