A re-run of the last final of the European Champions League only nine months after the event feels a little too soon. Or at least it does to the head coaches involved in Real Madrid versus Liverpool.
Carlo Ancelotti and Jurgen Klopp's experience of finals in this competition surpasses that of any other manager in this season’s last-16 phase. One of them must leave this European Cup prematurely.
If Liverpool are eliminated, a gloom will be cast over their season, an extra urgency injected into the salvaging of a domestic campaign that stuttered badly either side of a World Cup disruptive to most elite clubs but perhaps especially to the Merseysiders.
Their style of football feeds on gathering momentum and an intense rhythm. Interrupt those and the Liverpool method is put at risk.
The mood, though, is much improved at Anfield from 10 days ago, when an exit from the FA Cup, and a run of four Premier League matches yielding just one point were being digested. Everton have since been beaten at Anfield and a stubborn Newcastle United overcome at the weekend.
“We looked a lot more like a team again,” said Klopp, “but we still need results.”
Liverpool remain eighth in a league where last season they were still chasing top spot on the last afternoon.
The gap to the top four is seven points, and even if Liverpool have matches in hand on fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, there is a strong argument that the challenge of qualifying for next season’s Champions League looks as easily met by winning the current edition as by finishing in the top four of a fiercely competitive Premier League.
Under Klopp, after all, Liverpool have made reaching Champions League finals almost an expectation. They have featured in three of the last five. And in three of the last five seasons it has been Madrid who thwarted the European dream, twice in finals – 2018 and 2022 – and in 2020-21 when, thanks in part to an inspired Vinicius Junior, then just 20 years old, the Spanish team triumphed in the quarters.
An impressively matured Vinicius struck the winning goal in Paris last May to deliver Madrid’s 14th European Cup.
Newcastle v Liverpool player ratings
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NEWCASTLE UNITED RATINGS: Nick Pope - 4. Conceded two in less than 20 minutes. His night got worse when he was sent off for needlessly handling the ball outside the area and denying Salah a clear run at goal. AFP -
Kieran Trippier – 6. Was one of the few Newcastle players that had a good game. Created a number of dangerous situations with his crosses. Reuters -
Fabian Schar – 4. Made the surprising decision to step out of the backline instead of tracking Gakpo in the buildup to the Reds‘ opener. Should have at least hit the target when a Trippier corner found him in the second half. Getty Images -
Sven Botman – 5. Got caught out a number of times by Salah’s pace. Getty Images -
Dan Burn – 5. Hit the bar in the 41st minute from a Trippier cross. Did well to deny Salah what would have been a tap-in in the 74th minute. PA -
Sean Longstaff – 5. Had a tough day in the middle of the field. Struggled to track the runs of Bajcetic. Getty Images -
Joelington – 6. Had to focus more on his defensive duties due to the early red card to Pope. Became a bit more involved in attack after the break as the Magpies chased the game. PA -
Elliot Anderson – 5. Had a tough game until he was subbed off early for goalkeeper Kevin Dubravka. PA -
Miguel Almiron – 5. Almost scored early in the game after being set up by Saint-Maximin. Struggled to have an impact on the match after the Magpies were reduced to 10 men. AFP -
Alexander Isak – 6. His unorthodox style and unpredictability caused Liverpool defenders all sort of problems. Had a couple of half chances which he snatched at. Reuters -
Allan Saint-Maximin – 7. Arguably Newcastle’s best player. His quick feet got him out of tight spaces on several occasions and only an excellent save from Allison denied him a goal in the first half. Getty Images -
SUBS: Martin Dubravka (Elliot, 24') – 7. Came on with the Magpies already two goals down. Made several saves to keep the scoreline respectable. Action Images -
Jacob Murphy (Kieran Trippeir, 64’) – 6. Came on and did well. Despite being played in an unfamiliar right-back role, the Magpies looked more dangerous in the second half. Action Images -
Antony Gordon (Miguel Almiron, 64’) – 5. Struggled after coming on. Could have had an assist if only Wilson had been more efficient in front of goal. Action Images -
Callum Wilson (Isak, 64) – 5/ Missed Newcastle’s best chances when he failed to beat Allison from close range. Action Images -
Matt Richie (Joelinton, 71’) - N/A Failed to make much of an impact after coming on. Reuters -
LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker – 8. Excellent work to tip Maximin’s shot onto the bar in the first half and also set up Salah for a quick counter which led to Pope being sent off. Did well to deny Wilson in the second half. Getty -
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 9. Showed his excellent range of passing when he set up Nunez’s goal with a whipped pass from midfield. His crosses caused all sorts of problems for the Magpies backline. EPA -
Joe Gomez – 7. Looked more solid next to the imperial Van Dijk. Stuck to his job well and stayed close to Newcastle attackers. PA -
Virgil Van Dijk – 8. The return of Van Dijk from injury seems to have done Liverpool’s defence a world of good. The imposing centre-back hardly put a foot wrong all game and always chose the safe option whenever there seemed to be uncertainty. Reuters -
Andy Robertson – 7. Kept Almiron quiet and could have had an assist of his own. PA -
Jordan Henderson – 7. The Liverpool captain once again showed his composure and calmness on the ball. Sat deep next to Fabinho to help break up Newcastle’s attacks. Getty Images -
Fabinho – 7. A good day in the middle of pitch for the Brazil midfielder. Successfully broke up several attacks and helped start moves from the back. Getty Images -
Stefan Bajcetic - 7 The young midfielder continued his impressive form by helping the Reds win the midfield battle. Got into promising positions in the first half. PA -
Mohamed Salah – 8. Did well to set up Gakpo’s goal in the first half and played a huge part in Pope’s sending off. Only a last-ditch clearance denied him a goal in the second half. A tireless performance from the Egyptian. Getty Images -
Cody Gakpo – 8. Timed his run on to Salah’s lofted pass perfectly and slot past Pope in the Newcastle goal. Kept the home defenders busy. Getty Images -
Darwin Nunez – 8. Still had a lot to do after Alexander-Arnold played the ball to him for his goal. Showed composure to control the ball in the air and apply the finish. His pace gave Trippier problems on the right wing. AFP -
SUBS: Diogo Jota (Gakpo, 60’) – 7. Looked sharp despite just returning from injury. Should have got on the scoresheet when he headed Alexander-Arnold’s cross wide. Did well to set up Firmino in the 89th minute. Getty -
Harvey Elliot (Henderson, 60’) – 5. Failed to have much of an impact after coming on. Getty -
James Milner (Stefan Bajcetic, 60’) - 6 Brought on to use his experience to help the Reds see out the game. Kept it simple and went about his job quietly. Reuters -
Roberto Firmino (Nunez, 60’) - 5 Looked rusty after coming on and gave the ball away a few times to create dangerous situations. Should have at least connected with the ball after being set up by Jota. Getty Images
Tonight, for the third time in as many seasons, Vinicius and his jousts with Trent Alexander-Arnold are again a natural focus, a duel of prodigies with a storied hinterland of battles against one another.
Most of them were taken as a measure of how far Liverpool’s gifted attacking right-back has – or has not – broadened his game as a man-marker, or grown more mindful of his positioning; or of how much Vinicius had added precision in the final pass or shot to his searing speed and dribbling.
“He’s a world-class player,” said Klopp of Vinicius, “and not to be left in one-on-one situations. You try to deny him passes but the problem we have is if you can defend Vinicius properly, then there’s Benzema or Rodrygo or whoever. There’s Modric – world-class players. You have to defend against them collectively.
“We can’t play this game without respect for Real Madrid, they are absolutely world-class. It’s a well set-up team and I don’t think you can make them panic. They are always super, super competitive.”
Klopp acknowledged that only at the weekend, preparing for the latest instalment of his Liverpool-Madrid odyssey, did he re-watch the Paris final for the first time, replaying the series of Thibaut Courtois saves that would be as important to the outcome as Vinicius stealing away from Alexander-Arnold to score from Fede Valverde’s pass.
“Now I know why I didn’t watch it again,” smiled Klopp. “The chances we had! The saves they had to make! What held us back a little was that it was a final. We weren’t adventurous enough.”
Lessons had been learnt, Klopp believes. Man-for-man, a distinct Liverpool from last May's will seek to adjust the recent win-loss balance of contests between the two clubs.
Cody Gakpo, the winter signing, fresh from his first Premier League goals against Everton and Newcastle, should make his European debut for his new club. Darwin Nunez, last summer’s major recruit, is hoping to overcome shoulder pain enough to take part. “There is a chance,” reported Klopp of the Uruguayan striker.
As for Madrid, the weariness from a packed calendar, with its extra tournaments for European Cup holders, plus a winter World Cup to which 13 of their players were called up, is having an effect.
Their chief summer addition, France’s Aurelien Tchouameni, has not travelled to Merseyside because of illness. Likewise Toni Kroos. Benzema, who missed the weekend win at Osasuna, is a doubt for the starting XI. Once again, Ancelotti must look to Vinicius to carry a big load.
Real Madrid train at Anfield
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Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior during a training session at Anfield, Liverpool, Britain, February 20, 2023. Real Madrid face Liverpool in the Champions League last 16 first leg on February 21. -
Real Madrid's Eden Hazard and Vinicius Junior during training. Reuters -
Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema takes part in a training session held at Anfield. EPA -
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior ties his laces during a training session held at Anfield. EPA -
Real Madrid's Dani Ceballos. EPA -
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in action during a training session. EPA -
Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti. EPA -
Real Madrid's Eder Militao, Karim Benzema and Luka Modric during training. Reuters -
Real Madrid's Alvaro Rodriguez. Reuters -
Real Madrid's Luka Modric in action during training. Reuters -
Real Madrid's Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois attends a team training session at Anfield. AFP -
Spectators in the stands watch Real Madrid players during a training session at Anfield, Liverpool. PA
