LONDON • Anfield is made for special European nights like this and Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson is confident his team will rise to the occasion when they host Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash tomorrow.
After returning to form with a 3-0 Premier League win against Bournemouth on Feb 9, the Reds jetted off to Marbella, Spain, for a four-day warm-weather training camp.
Left-back Robertson is adamant that the squad are now rejuvenated and ready for a crucial run of matches. After the Bayern game, the Reds travel to Old Trafford to tackle Manchester United in a crucial league fixture.
"Two massive games. When we landed in Marbella on Monday, our full focus was on the Bayern Munich game," Robertson told the club's official website.
"We need to be at full throttle for that game. They are such a good team and they have been the last six or seven years so we know what a tough task it will be.
"But we believe we can cause any teams problems and we have to be at our best."
Liverpool are undefeated at Anfield in European competitions since 2014, and Robertson believes the home support will be decisive.
"Everyone knows how special nights here are in the Champions League," said the 24-year-old Scotland international.
"We feed off each other. Players feed off the fans and the fans feed off the players because it's up to us to get them to have something to shout about.
"But it also helps when they're getting behind us and it can maybe give you that extra percentage in the game. That's what home fans are for."
Influential centre-back Virgil van Dijk is suspended for the first leg and the Reds' defensive situation is further complicated by injuries to Joe Gomez (fractured leg) and Dejan Lovren (hamstring).
This means that manager Jurgen Klopp could deploy Brazilian midfielder Fabinho alongside Joel Matip against the Bundesliga champions.
Former Liverpool centre-back Sami Hyypia is confident that the Reds can cope without van Dijk and expects other players to fill the void.
"It is very difficult to find a weakness. He is an ultimate centre-back and it would be a pleasure to play alongside him. He is so good," Hyypia said of the £75 million (S$131 million) arrival in January last year.
"These kinds of things (his suspension) give other players an opportunity to shine and take responsibility, and I hope the ones who play step up and do their job properly."
After an indifferent start to the Bundesliga season, Bayern are now just two points behind leaders Borussia Dortmund after a 3-2 win over Augsburg on Saturday but they have played a game more.
Hyypia warned the Reds that it would be wrong to discount the five-time European champions who last won the Champions League in 2013.
"When the draw was made, everyone was saying that Bayern were not the Bayern of old, but they are a very dangerous team," said the Finn. "Liverpool can't underestimate them. They need to respect them, analyse their weaknesses and then strike.
"I think one of their weaknesses is defending against the counter-attack, and Liverpool are not bad in that area. I think that can cause problems for them."
It was a 28-3 blowout and the game was all but over until it wasn't. Starting with 8:36 left in the 3rd Quarter, relive the greatest comeback in the histo
12 Characteristics of the Top-Level NFL Quarterbacks
West Ham won their fourth successive Premier League game to add to Fulham's woes at Craven Cottage on Saturday, beating their cross-London rivals 2-0 with goals from Robert Snodgrass and Michail
West Ham beat Fulham 2-0 to post fourth win in a row
Football: Albirex Niigata earn point in 0-0 draw with Brunei
LAUSANNE: AC Milan risk being excluded from European competition next season after UEFA on Thursday ordered another probe be carried out into the Italian club for breaches of Financial Fair Play
Milan risk European ban as UEFA orders another FFP probe
SINGAPORE, 9 MAY 2019 - Philippe Aw's national Under-15 team will take on DPR Korea, Hong Kong and Guam in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-16 Championship 2020 qualifiers later this year. Singapore will host all the matches in Group
The Gays and Tennis - Part 13 - the Data Lounge
Dejected James Milner knows Reds will rue missed chances at Camp Nou Liverpool's veteran midfielder James Milner knows The Reds now face a massive uphill task to have any chance of reaching this year's Champions League final after losing 3-0 to Barcelona in Spain.
Haunted by missed chances, Reds fall in St. Louis | MLB.com
Tottenham's Harry Kane has been ruled out until March with an ankle injury. Scans have revealed the England captain damaged ligaments in his left ankle during Sunday's defeat to Manchester United
May 18, 2019 · Justification in the air amid Man City's historic treble. questions will remain about Manchester City's incredible domestic treble. South Africa has not won this year. Game schedule
Key Premier League changes in 2019/20 will affect Manchester
BBC Radio 5 live & live text coverage as Fulham host Manchester United in the Premier League. Manchester United will move into the top four with a win. BBC Fulham v Manchester United (12
Manchester United vs. Manchester City live updates, score
LIVERPOOL, England - Bayern Munich showed all their Champions League experience and quality organisation as they held Liverpool to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their last 16 match at Anfield on Tuesday in a game of few chances and little drama.
Football: Solid and smart Bayern hold Liverpool at Anfield in
This is only the start for Reds: Klopp. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is thrown in the air by the players as they celebrate after winning the Champions League on June 1, 2019.
This is only the start for Reds: Klopp - theworldnews.net
Court rules Rafinha must use Adidas equipment Rafinha started wearing Mizuno shoes in July, contesting Adidas' unilateral extension of the sponsorship deal that ended in June. But the Dutch court
Crime & Regulatory (@MackrellCrime) | Twitter
0 comments:
Post a Comment