Liverpool face Real Madrid as soon as once more within the UEFA Champions League, of their Round of 16 first leg fixture, at Anfield on Wednesday. The final time each side confronted every was within the 2022 Champions League ultimate, with the Los Blancos clinching a slim 1-0 victory, on the Stade de France in Paris. Brazilian left-winger Vinicius Junior scored the solitary aim, because the La Liga aspect claimed their 14th UCL title, which is the very best within the event’s historical past, adopted by AC Milan (7), Liverpool (6) and Bayern Munich (6).
Before the 2022-23 European soccer season started, Jurgen Klopp’s aspect had been thought-about to be the favourites to achieve the UCL ultimate in 2023, however their performances have been in stark distinction to final season. The Reds discover themselves in eighth place within the Premier League standings, with 10 wins, 5 attracts and 7 defeats. After a 3-0 defeat vs Wolves on February 4, Liverpool have discovered some momentum with wins over Everton and Newcastle United, and will probably be hoping to seize an early benefit within the first leg.
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Meanwhile, Real Madrid have additionally been sub-par this season and are second in La Liga, eight factors behind league leaders Barcelona. Despite their erratic type, Karim Benzema has as soon as once more been his aspect’s shining beacon, regardless of health points, and in addition missed his aspect’s 2-0 win vs Osasuna on Sunday. But it seems just like the Frenchman will characteristic in opposition to Liverpool, with Carlo Ancelotti revealing that he would begin the match.
The Round of 16 fixture between each side may form their fates for the remainder of this marketing campaign and former Liverpool participant Mark Seagraves feels that Klopp’s aspect may tip the scales to be favourties within the first leg.’ Speaking to Hindustan Times, the previous defender spoke about his favourties for the Champions League title this season, and felt that one other Premier League workforce may clinch the trophy this yr.
“If you would ask me this last year, I would say Liverpool. But Liverpool this season has been shocking, and they find themselves 9th or 10th in the Premier League, very inconsistent. They have had a lot of players out injured, they are now in contention, back to the squad fit. Whether they are going to play against Real Madrid, Van Dijk, Jota, Firmino, Diaz are back, he has got all of these big players back into the squad. Real Madrid haven’t been setting the world alight in La Liga. They are in second place behind runaway leaders Barcelona. So it is an interesting supporter. I am a Liverpool supporter. I want them to win for two reasons. I want them to get back on track. I also want them to avenge the two defeats they got in Real Madrid. It is an interesting tie as both teams have a huge reputation but haven’t been playing that well this season. Given that, this is a European night. I think Liverpool will just tip the scales to be favourties in the first leg”, he stated.
“I always say Man City because they have the best team but it doesn’t always equate to that. Man City are the favourites and then you have got the likes of Bayern Munich, who I feel this year, have a very good squad. Nagelsmann has organised a young, hungry and experienced squad. He has bought in the likes of Mane, who is 30-31, and is obviously injured but has been a revelation since he came. But he also has the likes of Musiala, De Ligt and players like Gravenberg. Then you have Gnabry, Sane, Choupo-Moting, who has been scoring goals. So they have real, good quality squad. Man City for me, closely followed by Bayern Munich and Napoli could be the outsiders, as how they are playing in Serie A, runaway leaders”, he additional added.
Meanwhile, the Round of 16 first leg additionally noticed PSG crash to a 1-0 defeat vs Bayern Munich on February 15, in Paris. The Bundesliga workforce choked PSG with their techniques, as Kinsley Coman’s 53rd-minute aim proved to be the distinction. The match additionally noticed Lionel Messi have a silent night time, and the Argentina captain will probably be hoping for a greater show within the second leg. When requested about his prediction on the second leg conflict between each side, Seagraves had an easy reply.
“No, it’s a simple answer. They couldn’t do it at home and Bayern Munich at home are a formidable force. The atmosphere will be great. They are 1-0 up. I mean no. I don’t think they will. But PSG have quality players, they can turn any game on its head. I just think with Bayern Munich, very professional, very organised, very disciplined. They also have equally good players in the forward line. Musiala, Mane, I know he is not playing, but Sane, Gnabry, all of these players that they do have are a test on anybody else. They are going into this second leg 1-0 up, so the pressure is very much on PSG to go at them and if they do, they are going to leave themselves very vulnerable at the back. If they do, even Choupo-Moting has been scoring goals, left, right and centre. Bayern Munich have the firepower to crush any sort of PSG comeback”, he said.
Watch the LIVE protection of the UEFA Champions League – Liverpool vs Real Madrid on Sony Sports Ten 2, Sony Sports Ten 3 (Hindi) and Sony Sports Ten 4 (Tamil and Telugu) channels at 1:30 am IST on twenty second February 2023.
Source web site: www.hindustantimes.com
