BEVERLY HILLS, April 15, (THEWILL) – On a night where the English Premier League side Liverpool, whose only realistic opportunity for silverware this season and only hope of participating next year were hinged on winning the UEFA Champions League trophy there was a lot to play for in the return leg of their quarter-finals fixture at home against La Liga bigwigs Real Madrid, which finished 3-1 in Real’s favour.
That is why, among other things, the Reds will regret the gilt-edged opportunities that fate brought them in the 90 minutes of the second leg but which they fluffed every time, therefore allowing Zinedine Zidane’s side to soak up the pressure, keep their composure in the middle of the park and venture forward with the confidence of knowing that they handled the business at home in the first leg.
In the end, the goalless stalemate proved Real was right as they ultimately progressed to the semi-finals instead of Liverpool although Jurgen Klopp’s charges played some of the best football they had managed since their winning run to the UCL trophy in the final against fellow EPL side Tottenham Hotspur in the 2018/2019 season. Although a lot has changed since then, if only players like pacy Egyptian Mohamed Salah and right back Trent Alexander Arnold were more direct, the results could have been different.
In a tight first half, wherein Liverpool made everything frustratingly difficult for Real, Salah especially was presented with a number of chances, the best of which came in those first three minutes when he could only shoot straight at Thibaut Courtois from inside the penalty area, with the entire goal at his mercy, and when it looked like it was easier to find the back of the net than not.
Progressively, the Spanish champions looked more and more comfortable. Main striker Karim Benzema, whose deflected cross hit the post in the first half, should have done better with a free header nine minutes from time for a goal that was bound to come from the Frenchman if Real were to score any goals in the tie. But the three they put past Liverpool in the first leg proved sufficient after they drew blanks at Anfield.
The much-talked about football pattern of Klopp’s Liverpool, the gegenpress or heavy metal football was at work on Wednesday night and it rattled Real Madrid. The missing ingredient was the finishing that eluded Salah. If the Egyptian had scored when presented with that golden third minute chance a lot could have been different. The poor Salah showing was to continue the entire game with the uncharacteristic lack of confidence that saw him blast over the bar or stopped by Thibaut Courtois.
If they can turn their attention and apply that ferocious determination to the final league games of the season, Liverpool can forthrightly challenge for a top four finish and that will be considered a win for the most unusual of seasons for the Reds. But, for that to be realisable, they will need their forwards to finish this hard work and not let the efforts of the entire team down as was the case in Wednesday’s quarter-final.
For Real, Zidane’s fourth UCL semi-final as Real Madrid boss beckons. Each of the previous three he has played, he has won. In the ruthless fashion of his managerial career, the French coach has knocked out Manchester City, Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich at this stage of the competition.
At the other side of the challenge is Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea, back into competitive places in the competition, a home and away tie from the final in front of them. There is no precedent to draw from as both sides have yet to clash in the UCL. All their previous encounters have come in the 1970/71 Cup Winners’ Cup and the 1997 Super Cup. Chelsea came out on top on both occasions.
There is no saying if history will repeat itself or if it will be the UCL maestro, Zidane, who will continue his dominance at the European elite football showpiece.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
