Liverpool, less 'electric' and with doubts behind

MADRID, 21 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) -

A year and a half later, Real Madrid will meet again with English Liverpool, whom they beat on May 28 in Paris to be crowned European champions for the fourteenth time in their history. Now, on the other hand, the 'reds', despite their improvement before this first duel in the Champions League round of 16, do not arrive with that frightening halo of yesteryear after a first part of the campaign marked by defensive problems and without enjoying the offensive power of yesteryear. We review Juergen Klopp's team line by line.

1. Goal. In the hands of the solvent Alisson Becker. The Brazilian goalkeeper is being one of the best news for Liverpool so far. Reliable since he landed at Anfield, the international continues to show a high level and provide a lot of security under the sticks.

2. Defense. Relieved by the return of her 'boss'. The 'red' defense is not fine before facing Benzema and Vinicius, but it reaches the tie with the good news of the return of Virgil van Dijk. The Dutch center-back, who is also dangerous from set pieces, is their best defender and his presence stands out to improve a team that Napoli thrashed in the group stage (4-1) and which has conceded 28 goals in the Premier , two more than in the entire previous campaign.

Van Dijk must surely play accompanied by Joel Matip since the Frenchman Ibrahima Konaté, starter in Saint-Dennis and who has not had his best year either, is injured, while on the sides the regulars Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson, 'daggers' offensive players who do not stop stepping in the vicinity of the rival area and with a very good footing, but with defensive deficiencies due to this same situation.

3. Midfield. Little consistent. Although Real Madrid arrive with the casualties of Kroos and Tchouameni, they should show their superiority in an area where their rival, who is missing Thiago Alcántara, is not overly quality. Fabinho continues to be the anchor, but he is not at as good a level as in recent years, and captain Jordan Henderson brings muscle, intensity and leadership.

Next to both and it seems that ahead of Naby Keita, the 18-year-old Spanish Stefan Bajcetic, in charge of putting more talent and who now seems to enjoy the confidence of a Klopp who must decide whether to bet on him or more seniority against party entity.

4. Front. The longing for Mané. Liverpool has strangely lost offensive potential despite the fact that they managed to get hold of one of the best and most promising scorers in Darwin Núñez. However, the Uruguayan has not finished settling and this has increased the march of Senegalese Sadio Mané, key in recent years and who has left only the Egyptian Mohamed Salah, who is now the greatest danger up front and who will want revenge against a Thibaut Courtois that embittered him in May.

Waiting for the South American to play and with the loss of the Colombian Luis Díaz, who contributed overflow and goal, the English team was reinforced in the winter market with the Dutchman Cody Gakpo, one of the revelations of the last World Cup in Qatar and who has scored in their last two matches. If Núñez cannot be there, Klopp can play the trick of the Portuguese Diogo Jota, who has just reappeared after the injury that left him without the World Cup, or the Brazilian veteran Roberto Firmino.