Rafa Benitez on where Liverpool vs. Real Madrid will be won and lost
Trent Alexander-Arnold up against Real Madrid’s Brazilian superstar Vinicius Junior, the midfield, and the importance of Liverpool’s intensity: Where RAFA BENITEZ feels Champions League clash will be won and lost
- Liverpool and Real Madrid face off just months after last year’s Paris final
- Battle down Liverpool’s right-hand side crucial with Vinicius Jr. the danger man
- Midfield battle will go a long way to deciding who advances to the next stage
Liverpool last faced Real Madrid just nine months ago when the Spanish giants claimed their ninth Champions League/European Cup with a 1-0 victory in Paris.
Meeting again in the last-16 of this year’s edition of the competition, it promises to be one of the ties of the round with one of Europe’s true heavyweights exiting the competition before daffodils have begun to bloom.
Liverpool, who enjoyed one of their most important wins of the season on Saturday at Newcastle, go into the game with confidence.
While Real Madrid head to Anfield knowing they have not been defeated by the English side since 2009, when Rafa Benitez was in charge.
Benitez, who led Liverpool to two Champions League finals, winning one, casts his eye over both sides and picks out where he feels the tie will be won and lost.
Real Madrid prevailed when these two sides last met – in the Champions League final last term
Liverpool blew Real Madrid away inside 20 minutes under Rafa Benitez at Anfield in 2009
Trent Alexander-Arnold v Vinicius junior
Everyone will be watching this duel after what happened in the Champions League final last season, when Vinicius scored the winning goal at the back post. What happened last May doesn’t matter on Tuesday night.
Liverpool and Real Madrid are now new teams. It will be interesting to see how both managers control this situation. Real will try to play to Vinicius as much as they can in the gap that Alexander-Arnold will leave when he goes forward.
How can you stop Real doing that? It will be a big challenge for Jurgen Klopp because Alexander-Arnold offers so much when he pushes high, but Vinicius is the one player who can make a difference and hurt Liverpool.
Vinicius Junior got the better of Trent Alexander-Arnold in last year’s final when he scored the winning goal
Midfield
I collect all the stats using special software that I have and, from my analysis, I can tell you Liverpool will be right up for the challenge in the middle of the park tonight — expect their midfield three to cover lots of ground.
They will start with real intensity, pushing and pushing to regain the ball high. But, at the same time, Real are comfortable on the ball.
Carlo Ancelotti can call on Luka Modric on Tuesday night, but he will have to go without Toni Kroos and Aurelien Tchouameni, who are ill. In their absence, Dani Ceballos and Fede Valverde will be even more key for Real. They will offer balance to the midfield and that will be difficult for Liverpool to deal with.
Fede Valverde (R) and Dani Ceballos will provide support to Luka Modric in terms of balance
Carlo Ancelotti will be able to call on his timeless Croatian with Modric targeting his sixth European crown
Intensity
This game holds a lot of good memories for me. In March 2009, when we played at Anfield after winning in the Bernabeu, we destroyed them in the first 20 minutes. We were so good and went on to win 4-0.
I watched Liverpool against Everton last week and the intensity of the team and the fans made the difference. Real’s advantage in the past was having more experience in important European games but Liverpool have a lot of players like that now.
If they play with the same intensity as they did in their last home game, Liverpool will have chances. Anfield could be really, really important.
The players will have to match the intensity they showed against Everton last week – but Anfield could be equally important
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