An under-fire Liverpool facet is all set to resume their rivalry with Real Madrid within the spherical of 16 stage of the 2022/23 Champions League season at a really decisive stage of their season, the place they’ve been affected by issues aplenty each on and off the sector. Yet there was a phrase of warning for Real Madrid, the defending Champions League winner, by former Manchester City defender Terry Phelan, as Carlo Ancelotti’s facet head to Anfield.
Liverpool have been enduring a forgettable season in Premier League, the place they managed solely two wins since begin of this 12 months to take a seat within the eighth spot within the factors desk, 19 factors behind leaders Arsenal. But Phelan admitted that at Anfield, Liverpool has at all times been a unique beast.
“When Liverpool plays Real Madrid in Anfield on Champions League night, there will be a 12th man in. I don’t think anybody likes going to Anfield on Champions League night because it is a different atmosphere,” Phelan replied to a question from Hindustan Times throughout a media interplay forward of the Champions League conflict.
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Despite Liverpool’s dominance in Anfield, they’ve struggled in opposition to Madrid in European competitions. After grabbing three wins in three matches between 1981 and 2009, Liverpool have been winless in six video games in opposition to the Spanish giants, with 5 of these ending in defeat. Two of these defeats got here in 2018 and 2022 finals.
Phelan nevertheless enlisted issues aplenty that has troubled Liverpool together with accidents. The Reds, will the truth is, be with out the providers of Calvin Ramsay, Luis Diaz, Arthur Melo, Ibrahima Konate and Thiago Alcantara as a result of accidents within the match in opposition to Madrid.
“Yes Liverpool are struggling, they are conceding goals and they have had terrible injuries and that is what has hampered them. Van Djik is injured, Mo Salah is not fighting enough and he is lacking that confidence and the back four is not clicking together, the midfield is struggling to find their feet and their high-press game is quite working for them at this moment. They will be playing a fantastic team in Real Madrid, who are second in LaLiga. For Liverpool, if they can win the first game, they will have a great chance because we know of their potential in Champions League,” he defined.
When requested what his recommendation could be for Liverpool, Phelan laughed earlier than replying, “Stop conceding goals!”
[Watch the LIVE coverage of the UEFA Champions League – Liverpool vs Real Madrid on Sony Sports Ten 2, Sony Sports Ten 3 (Hindi) and Sony Sports Ten 4 (Tamil and Telugu) channels at 1:30 am IST on 22nd February 2023]
Source: www.hindustantimes.com