Liverpool face Real Madrid, their conquerors in last year’s Champions League final, in the last 16 of this season’s tournament tonight, and with the Anfield side enduring a difficult Premier League campaign so far, the European competition represents one final chance of a trophy this season.
The good news for Jurgen Klopp is that Madrid aren’t quite the same side from last season, sitting eight points behind a resurgent Barcelona in La Liga; and despite the Reds being much further off the pace domestically, they have won their last two matches and go into this tie with renewed confidence.
Klopp may have to tinker with his line-up ahead of the match, though. With Darwin Nunez suffering an injury against Newcastle United which may see him miss out tonight, it may represent a chance for Roberto Firmino to come into the starting XI.
Will Roberto Firmino start against Real Madrid?
The Brazilian forward is in the final year of his contract at Liverpool, and despite featuring just 23 times across all competitions so far, he has still netted nine goals. Indeed, when it comes to the Champions League, Klopp arguably has nobody better at his disposal.
The £180k-per-week star has scored 22 Champions League goals across his career, proving well capable of performing on the elite stage, with ten coming during the 2017/18 season as the Reds reached their first final in the tournament since 2007.
Firmino has performed well for the Reds in the group stage this season, receiving a 7.12/10 Sofascore rating for his six appearances as he chipped in with two goals and an assist.
His display against Rangers in the 7-1 drubbing at Ibrox was exceptional. He scored twice, made three key passes, created one big chance and took 52 touches as the Reds humiliated the home side.
With Real Madrid failing to build on last season’s success, having conceded 17 goals in the league, Liverpool could exploit those flaws. Unleashing Firmino – who was once dubbed “world-class” by team-mate Andy Robertson – may see Klopp’s men well-placed to earn a result which could flip their campaign on its head should they win.
They also have a chance to avenge their defeat in last season’s final, which prevented Liverpool from winning a seventh European Cup/Champions League crown, and that may well be an extra motivating factor for Klopp’s team tonight.
There’s no doubting that Firmino still has what it takes to perform at the highest level, and if he clicks into the form that he displayed earlier this season, he could dominate Real Madrid in front of a boisterous home crowd at Anfield.