Champions League: What Liverpool needs to do to turnaround quarter-finals result

Liverpool have one chance to save their campaign and come away with a piece of silverware in what is arguably Jurgen Klopp’s worst moments as the Reds boss. Up next, the Champions League Quarter-Finals second leg.

Where to start with Jurgen Klopp and his Liverpool squad? In what was supposed to be their title-defending season in their Premier League run, turned into a season that needs saving from total disaster.

They were already counted out of the title race by December-January, sitting now 22 points behind their closest title rivals Manchester City.

This, coupled with the fact they have previously been knocked out of every domestic cup competition, gives the Reds little to play for as we hit the home stretch of the current term.

What’s left of a depleted season for Liverpool Football Club? A fight to reach a top-four spot with them three points adrift – and the smallest opportunities at getting one step closer to a major trophy.

The challenge is an uphill climb against the European giants Real Madrid

Their last shot at a spot in the semi-finals of the UCL sees them going into the final leg as the underdogs. The scoreline, at what we know as halftime, reads 3-1 to Los Blancos.

The tie is all but decided and a realist football fan would say this result is set in stone. However, a fan who has witnessed Klopp and Liverpool’s European history, would not count them out.

The score can easily be overturned, especially by a team of Liverpool’s calibre. Yet, it must be identified, they are doing it against the 13-time champions of Europe.

As we approach the final hours before the kickoff of Liverpool’s last chance slalom, the question is how can Liverpool turn events around on Wednesday night?

Starting with Jurgen Klopp –  The right team selection is imperative

This is where it all starts. A strong starting XI is the difference between, going into the game with loads of confidence or losing the match from the first whistle because of worrying the other team is a lot stronger than yours.

This is where Liverpool lost the Real test in the first leg. Going with Naby Kieta who has missed a large part of the season due to injury over the veteran Thiago Alcântara who is currently a Champions League champ, was an error on Klopp’s part.

Klopp having to remove Keita from the game in the first half already and calling it “tactical” confirmed how much it worked against the English club.

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The Anfield side are at their best when winning the game in midfield. A strong midfield presence is required to overcome a central area consisting of Luka Modrić and Toni Kroos.

Klopp needs to ask at this present point in time, who is his best midfield trio (predicting Klopp goes with his old faithful 4-3-3)? Thiago must start this one.

He has 11 seasons of Champions League experience. He has made 64 appearances, 52 of them starts. He has also won it twice with two different clubs. There is no way Klopp can overlook him.

If Klopp gets this right, Liverpool would have won half the battle before walking out of the tunnel for kickoff.

Attacking and playing on the front foot – Liverpool must risk it all

A slow and steady start with loads of possession is not going to do it for Klopp in this one. He will have to go for it at 150KM/H.

This goes hand-in-hand with a strong starting lineup and who he names to start the encounter to achieve this game plan.

With all of Liverpool’s attackers fit and ready to go, use all of them. Rather attempt to score goals first and have something to defend. Don’t play it safe. It’s not the time for that.

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Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane should all start. It’s worth a go. From the offset, the Reds will be showcasing intent. That intend could play on the opposition team’s mentality.

The Reds are never going to out defend Real Madrid with the current side broken in bits and pieces. But if they use the world-class attack at their disposal, they can give themselves a better chance at coming away with a positive result.

Liverpool’s efficiency in front of goal

We touched on this as a key factor in Liverpool’s failure to overcome their opponents. Before they were slotting in half chances with their eyes close. Now it appears their eyes are closed all the time in the final third  – in almost all departments; delivery and execution.

To improve here, the delivery needs to improve to the level of last season and the season prior to that. Both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson must be at their best as they face the toughest task of the night of all Reds on the pitch.

The hardest job of all – Stopping the ruthless Real counter-attack

They must stop Vinicius Júnior and co while trying to get high up the pitch. If they are not high up on the flanks, Liverpool’s game is quite crippled and will unquestionably be restricted.

Dealing with the threat of Madrid’s counter-attacking pace will be the hardest part of the game to overcome for the Reds.

So the two most important defensive roles to execute flawlessly is; give Kroos and Modric no time on the ball to dictate the game and handle the athleticism on the flanks tirelessly.