Jurgen Klopp told his players to stop giving the ball away, concentrate and play their own football after Liverpool produced a dreadful first-half performance against Real Madrid, Gini Wijnaldum has revealed.
The Reds found themselves two goals down at half-time, having been punished by Vinicius Jr. and Marco Asensio after two long-range passes from Toni Kroos wreaked havoc among the visitor's defence.
Mohamed Salah scored just six minutes into the second-half as Liverpool kicked into gear and the Egyptian finished off a sweeping team move after Diogo Jota's shot was diverted into his path.
However, Zinedine Zidane's side scored again through Vinicius and the Reds could not find another reply.
Captain Gini Wijnaldum outlined after the game why Liverpool were beaten and explained what was said in the dressing room at half-time.
“It was difficult," he told BT Sport. "I think because we played against a good side and the way we did it in the first-half was not good.
"When we recovered the ball, we lost it too quickly with simple passes. I think it was the reason why we couldn’t come into our game, what we did at the weekend quite well, when we recovered the ball, when we counter-press and we played good football, we didn’t do that in the first-half.
"We lost the ball too easily and for two moments, we weren’t concentrating enough and they scored.
"I don’t want to say it was a present because he still has to make the goal but it was difficult in the first-half.
"We weren’t concentrating enough or sharp enough, I think it was a long ball, we didn’t stand well at the back and that’s why that happened for the second goal.
"What we said for the second-half was that we needed to play our football, don’t lose the ball too easily and we need to concentrate more.
"They were a few times dangerous with the long balls, also in the second-half, I have to say. Just play our own game, and that’s why we scored a goal but unfortunately they scored again and that makes it more difficult than when it’s 2-1.
"It gives us confidence, of course. We hoped for a better result but we know we have to hang on to the good things and that’s the away goal. We have to make sure we score two and don’t concede a goal."
