Beware a Ruud waking
62 Sunday Mail
Dutch legend Ruud Gullit has warned Liverpool to beware a Manchester City backlash in the Champions League this week.
Gul l i t , a two- t ime European Cup winner with AC Mi lan, reckons Pep Guardiola’s men have the firepower to overturn a 3- 0 first-leg deficit at the Etihad on Tuesday night.
And he also believes City’s players have been given an extra incentive by the bottle-throwing Liverpool fans who attacked their team bus outside Anfield.
Gullit said: “Jurgen Klopp will know that the battle has not been decided yet.
“Th e o t h e r three semi-finalists are definites: Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
“But nobody can guarantee that 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 by City when his side lost 5- 0 at the Etihad.
“The hostility Liverpool will feel at the Emirates will be the obvious result of the attack on the City bus.”
Former Chel sea and Newwcastle boss Gullit believes Liverpool’s midfield of James Mi lner, A lex Oxlade- Chamberlain and Jordan Henderson provided the platform for that sensational Anfield win.
But Hender son is suspended for the return and the Dutchman added: “Pep Guardiola has a better midfield at his disposal.
“It was fascinating to see how Henderson, Milner and Oxlade-Chamberlain never gave City’s world stars a second of time.
“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 them.”