Liverpool should be thankful for Champions League loss

Liverpool should be thankful for their Champions League loss.

Nobody was happy when Atletico pulled off the ultimate smash-and-grab and beat Liverpool over two legs. Nobody expected it either, especially not after Roberto Firmino put the Reds two goals up following Gini Wijnaldum’s opener.

In many ways, Jurgen Klopp and Diego Simeone are similar men. But they weren’t in the Champions League and only one was able to lead their side in the hope of glory.

That might come back to bite Atletico.

As they search for the Champions League crown, Klopp’s boys will be resting up before the start of the next Premier League season. They’ve been given two weeks off, then one week training from their gardens, before reporting back to Anfield.

Without that, this side would still be going at high intensity with the hope of beating RB Leipzig in the next round. After such a packed football schedule, nothing could be worse. Liverpool have already competed in the Premier League, Champions League, Super Cup, Club World Cup, Carabao Cup and FA Cup.

I think they’re due a little rest.

While it’s never nice to miss out on silverware, the break will probably do this side good as they look to retain their title and remain competitive across the full domestic and European calendar.

Klopp plays an incredibly intense brand of football, which required the side to give everything to the cause. That, along with the mental strain being the hunted and not the hunters, means this group needs a decent spell of rest.

Without it, Liverpool could have started the season slowly and lost ground to sides like Manchester City – who won’t be as mad as they were in 2019/2020. Pep Guardiola has already dipped into the transfer market and looks sure to sign Nathan Ake and Ferran Torres.

It’s for those reasons that we should be thankful for Liverpool missing out on Champions League glory.