Pre-Match: Liverpool v Real Madrid (Last 16 1st Leg) 21 Feb 2023 8pm

Vinícius Jr vs Trent = Disaster!

Benzema and Valverde top players. Val in particular. Have him here like a shot. Modric in mid. Alaba to take on Mo. They'll be deep no matter who they start. It will be a lock picking excercise. Rudiger is a top defender. They'll be up for it and Carlo, the sly old fox won't be fooled by our relatively poor form. He knows what to expect.

It’s going to a great game


Their GK was the difference last time

Think it’s going to be tight

I remember we beat them 4-0 once and jay spearing got a massive standing ovation.

We did indeed, I was at that game and it was brilliant.

We just need a solid win to take back to Madrid, we need everyone to be up for this and just like the bitters game the other Monday when the kop was in full flow, we all know what European nights are like at Anfield and the place needs to be buzzing, Jürgen will have them fired up for sure.

Strongest team possible, gotta be, great chance to get a bit of revenge on these.

Come on you mighty redmen, full heart and soul into this one.

Nunez will play . Would imagine same team as Saturday Jota Will start against  Palace

Nunez was in training today so looks like will be fine

Nunez was in training today so looks like will be fine

Need his pace, he is perfect against European competition

We'll have spells of proper pressure against these tomorrow but we're going to need to be clinical because I don't see us keeping a clean sheet in either leg. It was poor finishing that cost us the final last year so need to right that wrong.

I think the fact that Jota was so good against City at Anfield earlier this season means he should start this one.

I will say we need to be extra clinical. Why?

1) They are incredibly efficient. As we all know in the recent final. They had 4 goal attempts all game versus our 24. Ancelotti knows this and is more than happy to sit and wait for the right chance. They will not take the game to us like City or other teams.
2) Their movement and transition is very good. Even with the goal attempts we had, they still had almost 50% of the ball. Vital we score first, otherwise I fear they will just pass around us and draw fouls if they score first.

A draw is not a bad result, though we are capable of winning. Second leg is going to be a nightmore, but we must make it a nightmare for them, at Anfield first.

And P.S. Jürgen - instruct our players to close down Valverde if hes in shooting range. 

Simply hope we turn up against Real Madrid tomorrow night, need to keep on improving. A couple of goals and a clean sheet, would be the ideal scenario. Hope it is a great night for all LFC supporters !

Need his pace, he is perfect against European competition

I think Gakpo will shine in this as well. He's coming into his own.

I'd personally go same again but I think we'll see Firmino in for Gakpo and Jota for Nunez if he isn't fit.

Think Joe got the nod over Matip v barcodes, to check his form. He’ll probably start for his pace to cover Trent venturing forwards.

I'd personally go same again but I think we'll see Firmino in for Gakpo and Jota for Nunez if he isn't fit.

Maybe Klopp will see Bobby as having an edge in big game experience? Who knows but I still think Cody should start.

We will fight for real and it‘s on Anfield, so we will grind out a 2-1 win. If we get outplayed by Madrid, like 0-2, it would be a proof we need a genuine rebuild & self-scout, incl. coaching stuff.

Touchemeni and Kroos out. Whisper it quietly but we should actually win tonights midfield battle.

ha ha I was about to call for the men in white coats.

That small bit of text down the bottom makes all the difference.

Same team as saturday, go and smash them.

Let's turn in on against Real Madrid tonight, with another display, proving we are moving in the right direction, 3  1 to the Reds !

NB: Team no longer available

Updated the Teambuilder because I forgot Bajcetic was originally in as a defender.

Touchemeni and Kroos out. Whisper it quietly but we should actually win tonights midfield battle.

Modric knows exactly how to handle us

Touchemeni and Kroos out. Whisper it quietly but we should actually win tonights midfield battle.

They still have Modric who is key to their midfield

Have a buddy in work who is an RM fan. Has been complaining for last while about how bad RM are, how they don't have a striker, a left back etc etc. They have won most of their recent games though, but he still thinks they need to go all out and get Bellingham in the summer.

If we weren't coming into this off the back of 2 good wins, would not be confident at all. But we are, which is huge, puts some pep in the step.
We have a bad recent record against these, can't argue that - but anything can happen over two legs and tonight need the crowd to roar us on.

Can't wait

Vinícius Jr vs Trent = Disaster!

Trent has improved drastically and I hope that I am right in this one.

We can win it if we play as a team and take our chances.