Klopp dropped him at a press conference, now what James Pearce has to say about Liverpool's current form

This Madrid side proved more solvent than the side that overcame Jurgen Klopp's side in last year's final in Paris. They did so with a victory that recalled the run of comebacks that saw Real Madrid win their 14th European Cup, stretching their own record collection of European Cup triumphs.

Both Real Madrid and Liverpool are considered Champions League royalty in their own right. Down by two goals before the first quarter-hour, Europe's reigning monarchs turned the scoreline around to claim a 5-2 victory over Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday and take a firm lead into the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

In another display of class, Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema both scored braces as the Spanish giants knocked out Liverpool, who conceded four home goals for the first time in European competition. And Madrid confirmed what has always been the case: rivals will have to make a titanic effort to prevent them from winning another continental crown.

<strong>James Pearce responds</strong>

Journalist James Pearce was in a polemic with Jurgen Klopp a few days ago and now in The Athletic he published a harsh critique of Liverpool's current form: Nine months ago, Liverpool met Real Madrid as equals and only the heroics of Courtois denied them a seventh European crown. Last night laid bare how Liverpool have regressed. The scale of the decline has been stark.