Champions League: Phil Thompson believes Liverpool can be proud of display despite 1-0 defeat at Real Madrid
Former Red Dietmar Hamann questions Gerrard oversight
Wednesday 5 November 2014 17:49, UK
Liverpool can be proud of their performance in the Bernabeu and could have got something out of the game, argues Sky Sports’ Phil Thompson.
The Reds, who made a number of notable omissions for Tuesday's match, slipped to their second defeat to Madrid in as many weeks – with Karim Benzema’s 27th-minute strike settling the contest.
Real entered the game on the back of 11 successive victories in all competitions, a run which has saw them score an incredible 46 goals in the process.
Liverpool’s heavily-altered starting line-up, allied with Madrid's emphatic recent form, would have led the most die-hard of Liverpool fans to question their side’s chances against the European champions.
But Thompson suggested Brendan Rodgers’ side could have no regrets on how they performed and pointed to a lack of fortune preventing them from getting something out of the game.
Fairness
Giving his assessment on the game, Thompson told Soccer Special: “I feel happy about a 1-0 defeat and Brendan will be quite pleased with himself.
“But you never enjoy a defeat when you’re part of Liverpool Football Club. There was great apprehension from the fans and everybody concerned (before the game) and in all fairness Brendan picked his side, went with it and they had to stand up – which they certainly did.
“You could feel when it got towards the last 20 minutes, when Steven Gerrard, Raheem Sterling, and Philippe Coutinho came on there was a sense - particularly when Borini’s free kick got a deflection off Luka Modric - that maybe it wasn’t their day.”
With one eye on Saturday’s Premier League clash with Chelsea, Brendan Rodgers left their talismanic captain on the bench, along with playmakers Sterling and Coutinho.
Thompson, however, would not let this detract from a number of players who stepped up on the biggest stage and ensured Liverpool were not on the end of an embarrassing defeat.
“In fairness to sum it all up the players will have enjoyed the experience playing here and I think they have all done themselves very proud,” he added.
“Mignolet, who’s had a difficult time recently, was brilliant and Kolo Toure at centre-back was great, so fantastic play all around.”
Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann was bewildered by Steven Gerrard's exclusion form the starting line-up in the Bernabeu.
Ultimate
Hamann, who won the Champions League in 2005 with the Reds, believes Liverpool's indifferent start to their league campaign has brought their top-four credentials into question, and questioned why Rodgers would deny Gerrard the opportunity to start in the Bernabeu for what could be the last time.
“It would be interesting to know if he did speak to his captain to leave him out, because I can imagine he wasn’t too impressed because you’re not sure if they will get in the top four this season, so it may have been the last time he goes to the Bernabeu," Hamann said.
“To play there is the ultimate experience, so it would be interesting to know whether he did speak to him before the game, or even ask him whether he is OK with leaving him out.
“He thought they are going to Madrid and are going to get beat anyway. You may say it’s negative, but you give them [the younger players] a run out, give them a bit of confidence, which they got by that defeat – they can leave the Bernabeu with their heads held high."
