Liverpool will be expecting to challenge for the Champions League this season. The Reds will be looking to correct their premature departure from last season’s competition. Given the strong start to the season and the recruitment of serial winner Thiago Alcantara, reaching the latter stages must be expected. However, playing at an empty Anfield in the Champions League will be a massive blow to Liverpool.
Playing at an empty Anfield in the Champions League will be a massive blow to Liverpool. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Last season’s exit
Liverpool were dumped out of the competition in the round of 16 last season.
The Reds were unlucky to finish the first leg a goal behind, Atletico Madrid going into the lead after tapping in from close range after a couple of deflections.
At Anfield we saw one of the strongest Liverpool displays of the season cancelled out by a shocking performance from substitute keeper Adrian, the Spaniard gifting the game to his compatriots.
Time to regain the title
Liverpool have recruited smartly over the summer. The Reds have added depth to the side as well as unpredictability.
The recruitment of Thiago Alcantara added even more winning pedigree to a champion side.
It is perhaps Liverpool’s best chance in years of winning the Champions League, they must surely be considered in the top two favourites for the trophy, alongside Bayern Munich.
Empty Anfield for Champions League
Due to the impact of the pandemic, Liverpool will nearly certainly be playing behind closed doors for at least some of their games in Europe.
Having an Empty Anfield for the Champions League will be like going to Metallica show and getting a surprise acoustic set – sure, it’ll still be great but it’s not what you came for. I’m not a mosher, it’s just the only metaphor that came to mind.
Teams come to Anfield for these special nights and they are intimidated, we saw this when the Reds wiped Barcelona out of the competition 4-0 last year.
The Anfield atmosphere on Champions League nights is a huge advantage for the Reds and as long as the stadium is empty the side will be missing out on this advantage.
We can only hope that fans are somehow allowed back into the stadium for the final fixtures of the group stage in December.