Liverpool were humiliated by Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night, in the clearest sign yet that Jurgen Klopp’s current team have reached the end of an era.
Thierry Henry and Jamie Carragher have agreed that Liverpool have reached the “end of an era” after their humiliating 5-2 defeat to Real Madrid.
The Reds had gone two goals in front against Los Blancos, but conceded five without answer to fall to their worst ever European loss at Anfield. It is the latest low point of a campaign that has seen them battling in midtable in the Premier League.
But the manner of the defeat to the reigning LaLiga champions, having reached the final of the competition last season, is what will concern Jurgen Klopp most. And Arsenal legend Henry believes it is time for the Reds to evolve.
You conceded against Brentford too many goals for my liking. You conceded against Wolverhampton too many goals for my liking, Brighton, so let alone when you’re going to play against Real Madrid,” he told CBS Sports.
“I wanted to know where they were and I saw a fragile team. More than fragile, I tell you why, you were 2-0 up. It’s exactly the start you want to have and they couldn’t even keep that. They are fragile.
“Something needs to change. I don’t think Klopp needs to go, but some of the players don’t have the level anymore to play for Liverpool. I think it’s the end of an era and it’s been like that this season.
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“It happens. I’m not having a go at Liverpool but you have to as we say in France call a cat a cat. They’re eighth, they’re not playing well, they’re conceding a lot. We all love what they did but you also have to say when some things are not going right.”
Former Premier League title winner Micah Richards though insisted that the defeat to Madrid was a mess of Liverpool’s own making. Instead of the ‘end of an era’, Richards believes that the hosts were not savvy enough after going in front.
“We talk about ‘it’s the end of an era’, if you go 2-0 up in a game, surely sometimes you have to change your principles in order to win the game. Whereas when I see Liverpool, it gets to 2-0 up, it goes to 2-2, they’re still doing the same things,” he said.
Like the full-backs, we all know how good they are going forward and that’s why we’ve lauded them. But they keep making mistakes. You’ve got Vinicius, one of the best players in the world and he’s got so much time and space.”
But Liverpool legend Carragher agreed with Henry and admitted that Klopp’s side looked “broken” in the second-half against Madrid. He insisted the German should be given time to rebuild his team, with some Reds players no longer playing at the level required.
“I don’t really agree with that. We can’t say how great this team have been for five years, doing a certain thing and now say they’re wrong to do that thing,” Carragher said.
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“My point is that they’re trying to play Jurgen Klopp football without players who can play Jurgen Klopp football. And that is maybe some players who have been brought in, but also some players who it’s just come to the end.
“I would never criticise those players, because they’ve done their job over the last four or five years. As Thierry said, this team has come to an end. Jurgen Klopp built a team and what we saw over the next four of five years was amazing. He needs to be allowed to that again.
“I think that’s [the defeat to Madrid] a line in the sand. When you lose 5-2 at home in the Champions League, that’s like ‘no, we have to stop, we have to start again’. The big worry for me was second-half, attacking the Kop on a big European night and there was absolutely nothing. It just looked broken.”
It wasn’t just the CBS pundits who lamented Liverpool’s defeat, with club legend Steven Gerrard also blasting his former side, insisting the defeat was a “reality check” after signs the Reds were starting to rediscover their form.
“I think it’s a reality check. Got off to the perfect start, exactly what you need on a European night – start fast, get yourself in front, build on it. They went two nil up, but from that moment Real Madrid came back into it, scored quite quick – fantastic goal,” he told BT Sport.
“From then Liverpool were dominated and outclassed for large periods. Look, I think any team, any club, if you concede five goals there’s got to be an inquest into why and how. I’m sure Jurgen will do that in the coming days.
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