In the embers of the night, as Liverpool players slumped to the floor with heads buried in their hands and fans around the world turned away from their televisions in disgust, there was one cursed thought which prodded at them all.
If Klopp had the right centre-backs playing at the back would all this have happened?
Would Real have run away with the tie so effortlessly in the first leg?
The hypothetical notion will never be answered. However, what was made glaringly obvious over the two legs that neither Ozan Kabak and Nat Phillips are suited to playing the high defensive line Klopp likes to deploy.
Liverpool need a defender.
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Therefore in the summer, the club needs to find a player with the right profile. Someone who would be capable of playing Klopp’s defensive high-line, has the ability to progress the ball well and is also commanding in the air.
The best cheap candidate would be Attila Szalai.
The Hungarian is being courted by the likes of Leicester City, Napoli and AC Milan according to various reports in Hungary via Sport Witness.
Having caught the eye for Fenerbahce this season with some stellar displays, Szalai has quickly become a fan favourite with the Turkish outfit.
Composed on the ball, Szalai makes almost as many progressive passer per 90 and has been dubbed as the Hungarian Virgil Van Dijk according to First Time Finish.
The Hungarian centre-back is also quick, able to make a lot of recovery runs which is exactly the type of player the Reds are looking out for. At 23 years of age he has plenty of time to improve too.
What do you think would you take Attila Szalai at Anfield?