Jurgen Klopp has been brutally labelled as a toddler when he was compared to Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti.
On Wednesday night, Klopp’s Liverpool looked to produce yet another European miracle as they hoped to overturn a 5-2 deficit against Madrid.
However, the Reds were desperately poor as they produced a slow and lethargic performance at the Bernabeu.
Karim Benzema’s goal in the 78th minute sealed a 1-0 win on the night and a 6-2 victory on aggregate, Liverpool were sent packing as they limped out of the Champions League with a whimper.
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On the back of their poor result, Liverpool have been told they are no longer a top club and manager Klopp is a toddler compared to Madrid boss Ancelotti.
Dutch journalist Henk Spaan pulled no punches in his column for Het Parool.
He wrote: “Is Liverpool a top club? Can you call a team a top club with someone like Milner at the centre of midfield?
“Do Liverpool have top footballers? Mo Salah, alright. Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Van Dijk? Once they were top players. Liverpool can only be called a top club if you look at the budget.”
He continued: “The level difference with Real Madrid was almost improbable. Benzema, Vinicius, Kroos, Modric, Valverde, Nacho and Camavinga would all be in the starting line-up at Liverpool.
“Klopp was a toddler compared to the mature Ancelotti, a coach doing his job with raised eyebrows watching the madness around him.”
The 22/23 season has been one to forget for Liverpool fans as they have gone from quadruple chasers to top four strugglers in the space of a few months.
Liverpool will now have to dust themselves off as they prepare to fight for a place in the top four in the Premier League.
Three crucial matches await them after the international break as they will face Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal in the space of eight days.
Can Liverpool finish the season strongly? Only time will tell.
Topics: Liverpool, Football, Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid, Jurgen Klopp
Marcus Chan