Last season’s Champions League finalists Liverpool and Real Madrid renew hostilities in the comptition this Tuesday in the first leg Last-16 tie at Anfield.
A repeat of 2021-22 Champions League final to be played over the two legs provides Jurgen Klopp’s men, who are back in form after picking up two wins on the bounce last week in league action, with the opportunity to seek revenge for the defeat in Paris to Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Liverpool won 2-0 away at top four hopefuls Newcastle United on Saturday with Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo on the scoresheet and the win could not have come at a better time for the Reds ahead of Tuesday’s home game against the Spanish champions Real.
The Reds had 15 points from a possible 18 in the Champions League group stage to finish second behind the high flying Serie A leaders Napoli but with only goal difference separating the two teams. Real, meanwhile, topped their group, making light work of Celtic, Shakhtar Donetsk and RB Leipzig.
Klopp’s side boast of a decent record in the knockout stages of the Champions League with just one exit from the Last-16 stage in the last five years – to Real’s city rivals Atletico Madrid who sent Liverpool crashing out of the competition back in 2020 after a major upset on away turf against the Merseysiders.
Real would head into the upcoming game on the back of a 2-0 win over Osasuna in the La Liga – a fourth successive win in all tournaments for Los Blancos.
WHEN & WHERE?
Date: Tuesday 21 February 2023
Time: 8 PM GMT
Venue: Anfield
TEAM NEWS
Darwin Nunez could be a doubt for Tuesday’s Anfield showdown after being forced off the pitch in the win over Newcastle with a shoulder problem.
Should the Uruguayan be deemed unfit to make the XI, Klopp will have to choose from the returning Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota to lead the line for his side.
Ibrahima Konate, Thiago Alcantara and Calvin Ramsay remain long-term injury concerns for Liverpool but the on-loan midfielder Arthur Melo could be included in the matchday squad following his return to full training.
Columbian winger Luis Diaz has been spotted on the Kirkby ground, however, the forthcoming contest is not one the former Porto man will be in contention for selection.
KEY BATTLE
Cody Gakpo vs Karim Benzema
Gakpo has finally got his red hot streak in front of the goal in the Liverpool shirt and despite the Dutch winger taking some time to settle in his new surroundings, the Anfield faithful are delighted to have their Janaury signing back on song.
With the in-form Mohamed Salah and one of Firmino or Jota as his partners in the Liverpool front line, Gakpo will be looking to score for a third game in a row against an impressive Real Madrid defensive lineup.
The visitors have the Ballon D’Or winner Karim Benzema to trouble the Liverpool backline and the Frenchman has been a thorn for Jurgen Klopp’s side in the past which is something the home side will be wary of.
MATCH PREDICTION
With Real missing some of their key players to injury for the trip to Anfield, the host Liverpool could be backed to clinch a win despite heading into the contest as the underdogs.
Liverpool 2-1 Real Madrid
