A swift change of attention towards the UEFA Champions League would be evident in Liverpool FC’s mentality following yet another defeat in Premier League action for Jurgen Klopp’s men.
Leicester City ran out rather surprise winners over the defending champions on a Saturday afternoon at the King Power Stadium despite Mohammad Salah having opened the scoring in the final third of the game.
A calamity-stricken Liverpool FC backline allowed the hosts to mount an impressive three-goal comeback within a matter of just seven minutes of play to thwart any hopes of the Reds retaining their top-flight crown, with Jurgen Klopp echoing similar statements in the aftermath of the weekend clash in the Midlands.
Six defeats in their last eight outings across all competitions have left the Merseysiders reeling in a lot of trouble on all fronts, least of which now accrues from the injury-hit first-team ranks at Klopp’s disposal.
James Milner became the latest inductee to the recovery table list after the veteran midfielder limped off the King Power Stadium turf merely 15 minutes past kick-off.
However, the Liverpool FC boss would no longer complain of the ever-increasing injuries affecting his side’s balance, primarily due to the fact that the once-brilliant Reds look stricken going up against any opposition these days.
Defeats to minnows like Brighton and Burnley have been followed up with shallow showings against the likes of Manchester City and Leicester City, leaving Klopp and Co. with not much to boast about going into the Last-16 tie against RB Leipzig.
The Bundesliga club secured further progress in Europe’s elite club competition thanks to a heroic 3-2 win over Manchester United in the backend of last year and the draw pitted Julian Nagelsmann’s men against English top-flight opponents once again, this time, Klopp’s Liverpool FC.
WHEN & WHERE?
Date: Wednesday 25 November
Time: 8 PM GMT
Venue: Puskás Aréna
TEAM NEWS
Ozan Kabak made his debut in the Liverpool FC colours on Saturday against the Foxes and the new recruit would be in the fray to start again come Tuesday night in Hungary as Klopp remains bereft of first-team options to field at centre-back.
Fabinho’s availability for the forthcoming fixture remains shrouded in doubt after the Brazillian international was ruled out for the Leicester City clash.
Milner became the latest man in red to leave the field abruptly due to injury, one which could possibly curtail the 35-year-old’s time on the pitch for the foreseeable future.
Diogo Jota and Naby Keita remain a short while away from staging a return to first-team football, confirmed Jurgen Klopp in a recent interview when quizzed upon the duo.
Key Battle
Dayot Upamecano vs Mohammad Salah
Upamecano was one name across Europe which had interested a host of top clubs heading into the summer transfer window, including Liverpool FC, however, reports earlier this week claimed that the French defender looks all set to finalize a move to Bayern Munich.
Jurgen Klopp’s misfiring frontline would be taking on the 22-year-old Leipzig man when the two teams face off hoping to put one foot further into securing a quarter-finals berth in the UEFA Champions League.
Liverpool FC’s fortunes in the midweek tie would depend a lot on Mohammad Salah’s showing in front of the goal, with the Egyptian gunning to steer his under-fire team to a much-needed victory in European football.
Match Prediction
It is surely now or never for Klopp’s men to return to winning ways as hopes of a second top-flight crown were all but ended following the defeat to Leicester City.
Champions League glory would be very much appreciated by a concerned Liverpool FC fanbase but it is a formidable looking RB Leipzig outfit which for now stand in the Merseysiders’ path to the UCL final in Istanbul.
We predict the Reds to bounce back with a 3-1 win over their German counterparts.
