Liverpool can reign in Europe again.. because players will say: Let’s go for magnificent SEVEN
LIVERPOOL’S doubleheader with Atletico Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League has the potential to be their biggest test of the season.
But if they can get past Diego Simeone’s side, who are more than capable of throwing a damp towel over any opponent and nicking a victory, then all bets are off in terms of a domestic and European double.
I know people will say Real Madrid, Manchester City, Barcelona and Juventus are all well capable of winning the Champions League.
They will also say
City have become a much more dangerous opponent given their desire to win the competition this season and stick two fingers up to UEFA after their twoyear ban.
But I still make Liverpool favourites to triumph in Europe, defending the crown they won in Atletico’s stadium last June.
The reason for that is, if they do wrap up the Premier League title by the end of March, which is looking increasingly likely, then all of a sudden their players will start looking around the dressing room and saying to each other, ‘Hey, remember how much we enjoyed winning the Champions League last season? Let’s go and win our seventh.’ As soon as the Premier League title is theirs, they can split the season in two, blooding youngsters such as Curtis Jones in the top flight and giving their main men little rests here and there to make sure they are firing on all cylinders in Europe.
Jurgen Klopp has made Liverpool a formidable force and anyone who draws them in the Champions League these days will have the same sort of feeling we reserve for when one of our clubs gets Real Madrid or Barcelona.
But just because they’ve made the Premier League a cakewalk, we shouldn’t automatically think they’ll have it all their own way in the Champions League.
After all, they were 3-0 down to Barcelona after the first leg of last season’s semi-final and, while they produced a miracle to turn that around, they won’t always be so lucky, however well they play.
The difference this season is that clubs, no matter how strong their pedigree in the Champions League, will tailor what they do to combat Liverpool’s strengths. The test then for the Reds is to see how they cope with the different circumstances and set-ups they come across. It is also about how they deal with individual world-class players because, let’s be honest, they haven’t faced many players fitting that bill in the Premier League for some time.
They need to remind themselves how difficult it was to get back into that second leg against Barcelona.
But, with the right attitude and mindset, I’d feel confident in saying they could come through two games against Atletico without conceding.
Two years ago you couldn’t have said that, which again highlights the progress they have made under Klopp.
And, if they are successful against Atletico, then I see no reason why Liverpool fans can’t look forward to their side putting a stranglehold on the Champions League for a few years to come.