Former manager Rafael Benitez has shared what Jurgen Klopp will do in the dressing room before Liverpool face Real Madrid tonight.
Writing in his column for The Times, the 62-year-old has claimed the Reds still have a chance of pulling back the 5-2 deficit at the Santiago Bernabeu later.
He suggested Klopp’s approach will play a huge part in whether his side succeeds or not.
“Will it be very difficult for Liverpool to overturn Real Madrid’s lead and progress in the Champions League? Yes. Will it be impossible? No. Miracles can occur — as we know,” said Benitez.
“Remembering the Champions League final in Istanbul in 2005, my message at half-time was that if we can score the next goal then we would be back in the game. That happened, of course. Liverpool wiped out a three-goal disadvantage and Carlo Ancelotti’s AC Milan were on the receiving end of a comeback that led to us winning on penalties.
“Now this tie is at “half-time” again, it is Real who have a 5-2 advantage, Carlo is the coach standing in Liverpool’s way once more and, I am pretty sure, Jürgen Klopp’s team-talk will be about the importance of scoring first. The main difference is that now they have 90 minutes to turn the result around and win outright, or take it to extra time. Real have home advantage, but the fact that the away goals rule is no longer applicable is one small positive for Liverpool.
“If I was to ask, ‘Can Liverpool score three times in the Bernabeu?’, then I think a lot of people would say, ‘Yes’.”
Benitez shares what Klopp will do tonight
As tactical comebacks go, Benitez is probably the best man to get advice from.
Liverpool need a miracle to get past Madrid tonight, but the Spaniard has been there and done it – and he suggests Klopp will get the team talk right before the game kicks off.
If the Reds are to get through, they certainly need to score early on.
Although pessimists will say that Liverpool were 2-0 up in the opening leg, a quick goal will rile the team up – changing the atmosphere within the stadium.
If they score once, there is no reason why they can’t score three.
The worry is more that the Reds have looked poor defensively at times this season, and they cannot afford to conceded another goal if they are to make the quarter finals of the competition.
Let’s hope Rafa is right and Klopp sets the tone before the game!