Liverpool travel to Madrid tomorrow to face a Real side who have one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals.
It needn’t have been such a big ask for Liverpool. But their shambolic performance at Anfield three weeks ago has left them with a mountain to climb at the Santiago Bernabeu.
As his team aim to overturn a three-goal deficit, Jurgen Klopp has to be bold. Here’s the XI we think he’ll put out on Wednesday night.
Defence
No shocks in goal as Alisson Becker looks to make up for his awful mistake for Madrid’s equaliser three weeks ago.
In-front of the Brazilian it would be a surprise to see Klopp make any changes. Right now, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson is his best defence. We’ll need them all right at it tomorrow.
Midfield
This is where things may have just become a little awkward for Jurgen. As if they haven’t been all season. Already looking light of genuine options for a game like this, it appears that both Stefan Bajcetic and Jordan Henderson were absent from today’s training session [Liverpool Echo].
As a result, we think Klopp has the perfect excuse to go as attacking as possible. Given the scoreline, perhaps the German would do this anyway. But without another midfielder, it should make even more sense to revert to a 4-2-4 in Madrid.
With little other option, Klopp is going to have to take a little leap of faith on someone. Fabinho is probably the first name on the team sheet given the options unavailable to the manager. Meanwhile, it’s proably a toss-up between Harvey Elliott and Naby Keita. We think in a midfield two, Naby will get the nod.
Attack
Here’s the fun part. With nothing to lose, Liverpool have to attempt to pummel their opponents into submission. As they showed against Manchester United 10 days ago, they are capable of doing that.
In ordinary circumstances, the three forwards who started that game would all be assured of their place at the Bernabeu. And they still are. Having Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez all on the pitch at the same time should give Liverpool a chance.
Adding Diogo Jota to that will hopefully increase their chance further. The Portugal international is badly due a goal – how does a couple tomorrow night sound? With Gakpo dropping off, Jota on the left and Darwin through the middle, the Reds have the firepower. Now let’s go and make it count.
Up the Reds, it’s not over until we say it is.
Liverpool’s predicted XI vs Real Madrid: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Keita; Salah, Gakpo, Nunez, Jota