RUUD RECEPTION WAITS FOR REDS
DUTCH legend Ruud Gullit has warned Liverpool to beware a Manchester City backlash.
Gullit, a two-time European Cup winner with AC Milan during a career that also included spells at Feyenoord, PSV Eindhoven, Sampdoria and Chelsea, reckons Pep Guardiola’s men have the firepower to overturn a 3-0 first-leg deficit at the Etihad on Tuesday night, to qualify for the Champions League semi-finals.
And he also believes that City’s players have been given an extra incentive to eliminate Jurgen Klopp’s side by the pre-match attack that saw their team bus wrecked by bottle-throwing Liverpool fans.
Gullit (above) said: “Jurgen Klopp will know that the battle has not been decided yet.
“For me the other three semi-finalists are definites – Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
“But in the case of Man City v Liverpool nobody can guarantee Liverpool will make the last four.
“There will surprises in the return leg – and Klopp will remember better than anyone else that he was wiped off the park earlier this season when Liverpool lost 5-0 at the Etihad.
“The hostility they will feel on Tuesday will be the obvious result of the attacks on the coach.
“Liverpool fans attacking that coach in the streets around Anfield will cause a hostile reception at the Etihad.”
Gullit believes Liverpool’s midfield three of James Milner, Alex Oxlade-chamberlain, and Jordan Henderson provided the platform for Liverpool’s sensational performance at Anfield.
But Henderson is suspended for the return.
And the Dutchman added: “The key figures on Tuesday will be the midfielders for Liverpool. Pep Guardiola has a better midfield at his disposal, but it was fascinating to see how Henderson, Milner and Oxladechamberlain never gave City’s world stars a second.
“They put so much pressure on them, that City never got the chance to dominate the game.
“The only two questions at this world-class level are how long can Liverpool’s players keep that insane tempo going, and can City score goals in that time?
“I love the big teams who have the guts to grab the opponent by the throat. Barcelona do it, Bayern Munich do it, normally Man City do it. Now Liverpool have joined the big, attacking teams.”