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Liverpool will be looking to overturn a two-goal deficit as they host Real Madrid at Anfield tonight.
Liverpool will go all out as Real Madrid come over to Merseyside for the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie tonight. It's their last chance to salvage something from a season that's quickly becoming forgettable. The Merseysiders were thoroughly outplayed at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium last week as Real Madrid registered a 3-1 victory.
But Jurgen Klopp and co. will look at Mohamed Salah's goal as a lifeline and hope that they can pull off something similar to what they did against Barcelona two years ago. Real Madrid have been on a great run but Liverpool have huffed and puffed since the turn of the year.
Despite all that, you can never write Liverpool off. Particularly when the decisive match is going to be played at Anfield. Without further ado, let's take a look at five reasons why Real Madrid could struggle against Liverpool.
#5 Liverpool's attacking depth
Liverpool pulled off a comeback win against Aston Villa over the weekend. The Merseysiders have a lot of defensive woes but their attacking department has returned to full strength.
Diogo Jota has looked in good shape while Roberto Firmino had a well-taken goal chalked off against Aston Villa. Xherdan Shaqiri made a decisive contribution after coming on in the final quarter of the game against Aston Villa.
Mohamed Salah has been able to find goals regularly as well. However, Sadio Mane's form could be a cause for concern. Liverpool will need to score a lot of goals tonight and if one thing does not work out for them, they can always take a different route thanks to their attacking depth.
#4 Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool have pulled off massive comebacks before
Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool have proved multiple times that they cannot be written off. They have made some historic comebacks, like the one against Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Europa League and the even more memorable one against Barcelona just a couple of years back.
If Liverpool can score the first goal tonight, then the whole dynamic of the game will change. If they can shore up their defense and keep the Real Madrid attackers at bay, Liverpool are more than capable of scoring at least two goals against any opposition.
They have a long way to go but they've overturned worse deficits in the past and with players of similar quality.
#3 Liverpool can do much better in the midfield battle against Real Madrid
In the first leg, Real Madrid absolutely bossed the midfield realms against Liverpool. Toni Kroos and Luka Modric were exceptional in the first leg and were ably supported by Casemiro. Zinedine Zidane is expected to go with the same midfield trio which is, in fact, the most successful midfield trio in Europe in recent times.
Liverpool lacked bite in midfield last week and afforded way too much space for the likes of Kroos and Modric. Shifting the play out to the flanks was easy for the likes of Kroos and Modric and being the exquisite passers of the ball that they are, the Blancos' central midfielders ran the show with authority.
However, if Klopp introduces James Milner into midfield, he will hound the Real Madrid midfielders and cramp them for room. Of course, he will need ample support from his partners. If Klopp can just find the right combination in midfield, they will have much more control over the game.
#2 Liverpool's European record at Anfield
Anfield was an absolute fortress for years until it was broken into and plundered mercilessly earlier this year. In fact, Liverpool's win against Aston Villa last weekend was their first at Anfield since December.
However, Liverpool have been excellent at Anfield in the UEFA Champions League season this term. There's something about the occasion that seems to exorcize the best out of Liverpool at Anfield. They have hardly ever lost at home and particularly in decisive matches, Liverpool have always produced the goods on their turf.
Jurgen Klopp's men will need to focus on shoring up their defense to make sure their attackers can play with freedom.
#1 Real Madrid's injury crisis
Real Madrid's injury concerns have been mounting and with four of their go-to defenders sidelined, they could face a tough test against Liverpool's frontline. Lucas Vazquez sprained his Anterior Cruciate Ligament in El Clasico and is now set to be sidelined for the rest of the season.
Eder Militao and Nacho have been starting at centre-back as Sergio Ramos is out injured and Raphael Varane tested positive for Covid-19. Dani Carvajal is also injured and this means that Zinedine Zidane will be forced to start Alvaro Odriozola at right-back.
Eden Hazard is yet to regain full fitness as well and this takes away from Real Madrid's squad depth. As a result, they will firstly be more vulnerable and secondly, they will be less flexible as a unit. Zinedine Zidane needs to get his pre-game decisions spot on as there won't be much wiggle room thereafter.
