Real Madrid defender David Alaba has claimed facing Liverpool in the last-16 of the Champions League will be a tough battle for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Speaking with BILD about the continental fixture, the Los Blancos centre-back suggested that he is almost worried heading into the knockout stages.
“Playing in the Champions League vs Liverpool will be brutal,” Alaba said.
“It will be a great game.
“Matches vs Liverpool are always battles, they are one of the best teams in the world.
“It will be tough, but we want to go through.”
Alaba says Madrid vs Liverpool will be ‘brutal’
Going off previous fixtures alone, we would agree with Alaba: the upcoming Champions League clash would be a tough fixture for both sides.
Admittedly, Madrid have gotten the best of Liverpool for the most part in recent seasons, but the Reds have always tested the Spanish champions.
Despite this, this is not the same Jurgen Klopp team setting out to play the Whites.
Compared to previous campaigns, Liverpool look like a completely different side.
In the middle of the park, the Merseyside outfit are a shadow of themselves. They fail to win the ball back and dominate possession – something they were once renowned for.
At the back, the Reds look extremely sloppy. A lack of composure often comes back to haunt the defence, and simple mistakes are made far too often.
Up front, the once-clinical attack is no more. Instead, Liverpool are often wasteful in the final third.
Therefore, although we appreciate Alaba’s comments, there is no way Klopp’s men will be heading into the Madrid tie with upmost confidence.
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