Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool must be at their very best if they are to overcome Real Madrid in both legs of their Champions League round of 16 tie.
Liverpool welcome Real Madrid who are the record winners and current holders of this trophy to Anfield on Tuesday for a first leg tie.
After enduring a terrible start to 2023 that saw them win just one game in seven matches, Klopp’s team was finally able to string back to back victories, those coming in the domestic league.
A 2-0 win against Newcastle over the weekend was preceded by a similar score against Merseyside neighbors Everton a fortnight ago. A perfect timing to get the form back, Klopp says, but insists they must play their best if Carlo Ancelotti’s men are to fall.
Speaking to SkySports, Klopp who won this competition with Liverpool in 2019 said:
I’m really happy we can play now. Four weeks ago, it would have been different, but life is all about timing. Maybe we’ve found our feet right in time for this game even though I would have expected us to be ourselves if we hadn’t won the last two games because it’s a different competition and you have to use this opportunity. We have these two results and hopefully we can build on that but we need to play a super game; we need to play two super games, to be honest, to get through. I have no problem with that because if you don’t play your best you don’t have a chance – Real Madrid don’t have to play their best and still have a chance! That’s the difference. That’s pretty special. I can’t wait.
Liverpool haven’t beaten Real Madrid since the 2008/2009 season when then, under Rafael Benitez, they beat the Spanish giants 1-0 and 4-0 in the groups stages.
It was a home and away triumph, but since 2014, the Los Blancos have won five of their six meetings against the Merseyside side with the recent one being last year’s final where Vini Jnr scored the lone goal as Madrid won a record-extending 14th Champion League trophy.
Ahead of the game, Klopp says his team can learn something from their opponents.
I didn’t watch it back until this weekend. The thing I realized immediately was why I didn’t watch it back but I had to – it was proper torture. We played a good game and could have won the game. They scored a decisive goal and we didn’t, and that was the reason. You could see how experienced Madrid is, how little they are fussed when the other team has chances, they don’t lose confidence, they know their chance will come. This is that team, the competition and you can learn from them, definitely.
Klopp will hope his side arrests the unwanted form against the Los Blancos. He will bank on Mo Salah who seems to have regained his mojo. The Egyptian was on the score sheet against Everton as Liverpool secured their first league win in 2023.
Another player Klopp will hope continues with the form is Cody Gakpo. The Dutch, a January acquisition scored in both those back to back victories.
The return leg of this fixture will happen on 15th March.
