Bad news for Liverpool as diamond in the rough misses Real Madrid clash

Liverpool haven’t had the best of times lately. While the 7-0 goal fest against rivals Manchester United was a nice bonus, their season has been on a downward trajectory for too long. Going from 7-0 against one of the better teams in the league to losing 1-0 against one of the worst is telling of Jurgen Klopp’s inconsistency.

However, among this inconsistency, there has been one solid. Stefan Bajcetic, an 18-year-old midfielder, has been one of the first names on the team sheet for Liverpool this season. Under Jurgen Klopp’s tutelage, the youngster has been a breath of fresh air for his dribbling and creative abilities.

Bajcetic was seen travelling ahead of the flight to Real Madrid – according to Liverpool Echo. This resulted in many fans feeling excited, as they could see Bajcetic play but this excitement was soon shot down. Klopp has since confirmed that Bajcetic will not play due to a bad stress response.

Missing an 18-year-old who was unheard of last season in one of the club’s biggest matches to date, where they need to overturn a 5-2 deficit, might not seem like the biggest blow. However, Bajcetic would’ve brought a youthful burst of energy and level of unpredictability which may have been too much for even Real Madrid to deal with.

To further rub salt into the wounds, the report also claims that Karim Benzema is “100% recovered” from his injury concern. The Ballon d’Or winner is perhaps the most likely player on the pitch to get himself on the score sheet.

It was always going to be a tough ask for Liverpool. Turning around a 5-2 deficit is never easy, but even more so when it’s against one of the biggest clubs in the world and the favourites to win the competition. It’ll be a great game and full of quality, regardless of the outcome.

What’s your score prediction for Real Madrid vs Liverpool?