Jurgen Klopp evoked Istanbul to inspire Liverpool against Dortmund

Jurgen Klopp evoked memories of Istanbul to inspire Liverpool to another extraordinary European comeback and into the semi-finals of the Europa League, James Milner has revealed, with the midfielder describing the 4-3 defeat of Borussia Dortmund as one of the most incredible nights of his long career.

The England international credited the Liverpool manager not only for the team's outstanding second-half display on Thursday, which produced four goals and a stoppage-time winner from Dejan Lovren after Dortmund had been 3-1 ahead in the 57th minute, but their transformation in the six months since Klopp replaced Brendan Rodgers.

Composure

Klopp was a model of composure during half-time of the quarter-final second leg against his former club, said Milner, despite Liverpool trailing 2-0 on the night and 3-1 on aggregate. He reminded Liverpool’s players of their predecessors’ recovery from three goals down in the 2005 Champions League final against Milan before the late onslaught that shattered Thomas Tuchel’s team.

Milner said: “The manager was brilliant. He was calm. He said we are not playing too badly. It is a long way back but we have nothing to lose. We have lost the first half, but you have nothing to lose, go out and do it. He obviously mentioned a certain night in Istanbul and said there have been other great nights in this club’s history from a similar position so go out and see what happens.

“Getting back into the game so quickly was important but then they went and got another. It would have been easy to roll over then but the desire and hunger of the boys to go again and push on – I can’t speak highly enough of them.”

As at the Ataturk Stadium 11 years ago, Liverpool were driven on by a frenzied atmosphere against Dortmund and Milner believes the comparisons with Istanbul were not restricted to the fightback.

The 30-year-old added: “To be honest, I think it was the perfect atmosphere created at half-time. We knew we weren’t in a great position, we knew we didn’t start the game brilliantly but we weren’t really bad.

“It would have been easy for him to come in effing and blinding but he didn’t. He was like: ‘Lets go for it. It is going to be difficult,’ and reminded us of a situation where the club has come through a similar situation before.

“The drive from everyone, from the fans before we got into the ground, the manager, the staff and the rest of the players, was great. The atmosphere, especially in the second half when we got the second goal and drove forward, it is difficult for any team to come here.

“When the crowd are like that there are not too many better places in the world to be playing. The way the fans were, when we were driving into the game, they deserve that victory. I am delighted we did it in the end, and in a way that kept them on the edge of their seats I’m sure.”

It was Milner’s cross that enabled Lovren to score the injury-time winner but the midfielder’s 12th assist of the season arrived moments after he had been jeered for another poor corner on to the head of a Dortmund defender at the near post.

Pretty tired

“The first few went where they were meant to and there was no one there, and the next few didn’t. It happens,” he explained. “But I’m delighted. Studge [Daniel Sturridge] held it up well, and the hardest part was running from the halfway line. I was pretty tired at that point. Creating goals has always been a strength of mine. A lot of people see me as a runner but I feel creating goals is one of my qualities.”

Liverpool’s vice-captain believes beating a team of Dortmund’s calibre Tuchel’s team had not lost in 2016 before their arrival at Anfield – will do a lot for the players’ belief and their prospects of winning the Europa League in Basel.

“I have said at times this year that I don’t think there is that belief there and the boys believe how good they are,” he said. “But to beat a team like Dortmund and come back the way we did is massive.”

Milner identified Klopp as the key factor in Liverpool’s recovery, believing the comeback was a clear sign of the spirit and unity the new manager has instilled in the squad. Asked what was the biggest difference between the start of the season and today, the midfielder replied: “A new manager. Obviously that changes a lot. He is putting his style on the team.

“The belief he has given the boys is massive. With the team spirit and quality we have it is an exciting time.” Guardian Service