Liverpool face Actual Madrid as soon as once more within the UEFA Champions League, of their Spherical of 16 first leg fixture, at Anfield on Wednesday. The final time each side confronted every was within the 2022 Champions League remaining, with the Los Blancos clinching a slender 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 best within the event's historical past, adopted by AC Milan (7), Liverpool (6) and Bayern Munich (6).
Earlier than the 2022-23 European soccer season started, Jurgen Klopp's aspect have been thought-about to be the favourites to succeed in the UCL remaining 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 might be hoping to seize an early benefit within the first leg.
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In the meantime, Actual Madrid have additionally been sub-par this season and are second in La Liga, eight factors behind league leaders Barcelona. Regardless of their erratic type, Karim Benzema has as soon as once more been his aspect's shining beacon, regardless of health points, and likewise missed his aspect's 2-0 win vs Osasuna on Sunday. However it seems just like the Frenchman will characteristic towards Liverpool, with Carlo Ancelotti revealing that he would begin the match.
The Spherical 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.' Chatting with , the previous defender spoke about his favourties for the Champions League title this season, and felt that one other Premier League crew may clinch the trophy this 12 months.
"In case you would ask me this final 12 months, I might say Liverpool. However Liverpool this season has been surprising, and so they discover themselves ninth or tenth within the Premier League, very inconsistent. They've had numerous gamers out injured, they're now in rivalry, again to the squad match. Whether or not they will play towards Actual Madrid, Van Dijk, Jota, Firmino, Diaz are again, he has bought all of those large gamers again into the squad. Actual Madrid have not been setting the world alight in La Liga. They're in second place behind runaway leaders Barcelona. So it's an attention-grabbing supporter. I'm a Liverpool supporter. I would like them to win for 2 causes. I would like them to get again on observe. I additionally need them to avenge the 2 defeats they bought in Actual Madrid. It's an attention-grabbing tie as each groups have an enormous fame however have not been enjoying that nicely this season. On condition that, it is a European evening. I believe Liverpool will simply tip the scales to be favourties within the first leg", he stated.
"I at all times say Man Metropolis as a result of they've one of the best crew but it surely does not at all times equate to that. Man Metropolis are the favourites after which you've got the likes of Bayern Munich, who I really feel this 12 months, have an excellent squad. Nagelsmann has organised a younger, hungry and skilled squad. He has purchased within the likes of Mane, who's 30-31, and is clearly injured however has been a revelation since he got here. However he additionally has the likes of Musiala, De Ligt and gamers like Gravenberg. Then you've got Gnabry, Sane, Choupo-Moting, who has been scoring targets. So that they have actual, good high quality squad. Man Metropolis for me, intently adopted by Bayern Munich and Napoli might be the outsiders, as how they're enjoying in Serie A, runaway leaders", he additional added.
In the meantime, the Spherical of 16 first leg additionally noticed PSG crash to a 1-0 defeat vs Bayern Munich on February 15, in Paris. The Bundesliga crew choked PSG with their ways, as Kinsley Coman's 53rd-minute aim proved to be the distinction. The match additionally noticed Lionel Messi have a silent evening, and the Argentina captain might 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 is a easy reply. They could not do it at house and Bayern Munich at house are a formidable power. The environment might be nice. They're 1-0 up. I imply no. I do not assume they are going to. However PSG have high quality gamers, they will flip any recreation on its head. I simply assume with Bayern Munich, very skilled, very organised, very disciplined. Additionally they have equally good gamers within the ahead line. Musiala, Mane, I do know he isn't enjoying, however Sane, Gnabry, all of those gamers that they do have are a check on anyone else. They're going into this second leg 1-0 up, so the stress could be very a lot on PSG to go at them and in the event that they do, they will depart themselves very susceptible on the again. In the event that they do, even Choupo-Moting has been scoring targets, left, proper and centre. Bayern Munich have the firepower to crush any type of PSG comeback", he said.
Watch the LIVE protection of the UEFA Champions League – Liverpool vs Actual Madrid on Sony Sports activities Ten 2, Sony Sports activities Ten 3 (Hindi) and Sony Sports activities Ten 4 (Tamil and Telugu) channels at 1:30 am IST on twenty second February 2023.
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