Liverpool was largely second best throughout an entertaining game against Real Madrid, who were missing their first-choice center-back pairing, but packed with impressive attacking talent.
Jurgen Klopp said Liverpool made it "too easy" for Real Madrid to win the quarter-final first leg between the sides, but feels Mohamed Salah's goal offers his side a lifeline in the return game at Anfield.
Much of the damage was done in the first half through Vinicius Junior's low drive after he had chested down a superb long pass from Toni Kroos and a Marco Asensio's close-range finish following a defensive mistake from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Liverpool came out fighting after the break, pulling a goal back through Salah's finish off the crossbar to spark their best 20-minute spell of the contest.
But they were stung again when Vinicius found the net via a first-time shot following a fine attacking move with 25 minutes to go, leaving them with a mountain to climb in the return leg at an empty Anfield on 14 April.
During their run to win the Champions League in 2019, Liverpool came back from a 3-0 away leg loss to beat Barcelona on aggregate via a stunning semi-final second leg full of ferocity and attacking brilliance.
They will need to do produce something similar if they are to beat Barca's fierce rivals in eight days time.