Jurgen Klopp confess to 'massive task' at Liverpool - so is this cycle over? - Legit Sports

Jurgen Klopp confess to 'massive task' at Liverpool - so is this cycle over? - Legit Sports

Jurgen Klopp confess to 'massive task' at Liverpool - so is this cycle over? - Legit Sports

Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool face a "massive task" to be back in the Champions League after their annihilation by Real Madrid - as the feeling grows this might be the end of an era for his side

The Reds were demolished 5-2 at Anfield three weeks ago and Karim Benzema's late goal at the Bernabeu made this Liverpool's biggest ever Champions League aggregate defeat.

Liverpool, winners in 2019 and beaten finalists just last year, will not even be in next season's Champions League unless their form picks up.

"We prepared for a special performance but we were not able to put it out on the pitch tonight.

It was obvious. Nobody is thinking, 'how did Liverpool go out?'" said Klopp.

The front three that took them to three Champions League finals in five years is breaking up. Sadio Mane left for Bayern Munich last summer, and Roberto Firmino is leaving at the end of the season. Only Mohamed Salah is left.

Captain Jordan Henderson turns 33 at the end of the season and James Milner, who started at the Bernabeu, is 37.

Former Scotland midfielder Charlie Adam, who played for Liverpool in 2011-12, said on BBC Radio 5 Live: "I think Jurgen Klopp has been a little too loyal to these players, especially when you look at what Pep Guardiola has done with the likes of Joao Cancelo at Manchester City and moving players on to bring others in

"But I think as a manager you also have to respect what the players have done for you and those are decisions that have to be made by the staff."

His 5 Live colleague Chris Sutton, who played in the Champions League for Blackburn, Chelsea and Celtic, said: "It was quite a flat performance, I just think this season they have been so inconsistent in terms of performance levels and results.

"It is absolutely critical they make it into a top-four spot. That is what they have to think short term.

"It will be interesting to see where Liverpool go from here and especially in the summer."