"It really depends" - Graeme Souness on Liverpool drawing Real Madrid
Liverpool legend Graeme Souness has given his thoughts on the Champions League Round of 16 draw where the Reds will face current holders Real Madrid.
Liverpool's Round of 16 draw in the Champions League is probably the hardest one they could've got, facing off against current UCL winners Real Madrid.
The Reds lost to Madrid six months ago in the Champions League final, a defeat that was a good reflection on Jurgen Klopp's record against Los Blancos in recent years.
Whilst talking to TalkSport, as cited by Anfield Watch's Twitter account, Graeme Souness said depending on what version of Jurgen Klopp's side turn up against Real Madrid, they could stand a decent chance of progressing to the quarter-finals.
“It’s what that name [of the Champions League] conjures up. Even when they’re not going well domestically they seem to turn up in those games. But it really depends what Liverpool will be playing.
“When I saw Liverpool in the first half yesterday, that’s as good as it gets, that was a team that were bang on it, they were fabulous. You’d say ‘they would be happy to play anyone in this competition if that was their standards and level of performance'.
“But in the second half they played second fiddle to a Tottenham side who had upped their aggression, and they found it hard to live with, so it really depends on what Liverpool turn up.”
Anfield Watch Verdict
The last six times that Liverpool have faced Real Madrid in the Champions League they have lost five of the games. Two of those games were UCL finals.
I feel like we say it every time we face Real Madrid but now is the time for revenge. They have bested us at every big occasion and now, with the Champions League as our main focus, we need to go into these two games full guns blazing.
Hopefully with the likes of Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota back for the first leg, we will be able to finally beat Carlo Ancelotti's side.