<\/p>\n
Jurgen Klopp gave a very honest assessment after Real Madrid beat Liverpool 6-2 on aggregate in the last 16 of the Champions League.<\/p>\n
Liverpool took a 2-0 lead early on in the first leg at Anfield but then capitulated and were beaten 5-2.<\/p>\n
They needed a miracle to overturn the deficit in the Spanish capital, but lost the second leg 1-0 thanks to a Karim Benzema goal.<\/p>\n
Liverpool will only have the Premier League to focus on between now and the end of the season and need to secure a top-four finish if they are to compete in next season\u2019s Champions League.<\/p>\n
Klopp credited Madrid, who were the \u201cbetter team\u201d over both legs.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing 5-2 down is not a great result if you want to got through,\u201d Klopp told BT Sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou need to have a special performance and we couldn\u2019t do that tonight. Real Madrid had the best chances, Alisson made two fantastic saves.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe right team went through, we have to admit that. Knockout stages are like this. It\u2019s not what we wanted but it\u2019s what we got.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou need moments in a game like this, if we scored in the first half it could have given us the spark but this is hypothetical. They were the better team in three halves of this tie and that\u2019s how you go through.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we draw at home and play like we did tonight, we probably go out as well. We cannot come here and hope that we get something. We prepared for a special performance tonight but it didn\u2019t happen.<\/p>\n
\u201cNobody thinks \u2018how could Liverpool go out\u2019 and that\u2019s probably the best sign that the right team went through and that\u2019s how it is in the knockout stage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Former Blackburn Rovers striker Chris Sutton admitted after Wednesday\u2019s defeat that it was always unlikely Liverpool would progress to the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was always going to be difficult to turn this around,\u201d he told BBC Sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe one comparison I made is that in 2019, you felt they was really capable of doing it that season.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was quite a flat performance, I just think this season they have been so inconsistent in terms of performance levels and results.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is absolutely critical they make it into a top-four spot. That is what they have to think short-term.\u201d<\/p>\n
Liverpool<\/strong><\/a> face an uphill battle to finish inside the top four with Brighton enjoying a terrific season.<\/p>\n The Seagulls are currently six points behind fourth-placed Tottenham with two games in hand, with Liverpool trailing both Newcastle United and Antonio Conte\u2019s side.<\/p>\n READ MORE:\u00a0Liverpool surrender to the inevitable as European masters Real Madrid run down the clock<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/div>\n