James Milner praises one team-mate after Liverpool earn Champions League lifeline

Blood Red: Jurgen Klopp On Qualifying For Champions League Next Season

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Here is your Liverpool morning digest for Thursday, April 15.

Milner singles out Phillips

James Milner namechecked Nat Phillips as Liverpool’s standout performer against Real Madrid – but criticised his side for failing to take their chances at Anfield.

The Reds crashed out of the Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid after failing to overturn a two-goal deficit from the first-leg.

Liverpool trailed 3-1 from the first-leg in the Spanish capital and needed to win by at least a two-goal margin to book their place in the semi-finals.

But despite dominating the game and creating plenty of chances, Jurgen Klopp’s side failed to find a breakthrough against their La Liga counterparts.

Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota all had good opportunities for the Reds, and Milner was critical of his side failing to take them after the game.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Liverpool’s Champions League lifeline

If not quite impossible, this was always mission improbable for Liverpool, writes Ian Doyle.

Now their remaining task this season is to ensure their departure from the Champions League is only temporary.

The Reds saw attempts to complete an unlikely European comeback hampered by the shortcomings that have held them back at Anfield all season.

That’s not to say Jurgen Klopp’s side didn’t deserve more from an evening that was part encouraging, part frustrating but, in terms of the final outcome, wholly disappointing.

Liverpool played well, arguably their best display of a fitful campaign on their own turf.

But, not for the first time, they were thwarted by poor finishing, the wrong final ball or impressive goalkeeping.

Maybe there’s something in the old adage that supporters at Anfield help suck the ball into the net.

READ THE FULL STORY FROM IAN HERE.