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."
Tim Paine, the Tasmanian hauled from the scrapheap and handed the Test captaincy amid the biggest scandal in Australian cricket history, has pulled off a remarkable victory, humbling Indias
Sterling gets Van Dijk's vote for PFA player of the year
Why Trust Is Critical to Team Success Trust is "hot." Today, more than ever, it's increasingly recognized as an essential asset to break down silos, foster collaboration, deepen teamwork, drive engagement, and manage the never-ending process of change. When trust is present, people step forward and do their best work, together, efficiently.
The Decision to Trust - Harvard Business Review
Football: Klopp relaxed about Salah's Liverpool drought
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association for his behaviour at the end of the 2-1 defeat at Burnley. The Argentine angrily confronted
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino charged with improper
As with life, striking a balance in football is key to success and happiness. On Friday night in Busan, the Socceroos face Korea Republic in a curious clash, where a new-look squad will take on
Need for speed the answer to topple Thailand | Socceroos
We do it our way, says Klopp after another late Liverpool win
Dec 16 (Reuters) - Chelsea consolidated fourth place in the Premier League with a 2-1 win at Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday that became harder work than had seemed likely in the first half
Chelsea hold on against Brighton to consolidate top four EPL
For Albirex Niigata S and Shuhei Hoshino, the magical number this week is 15. Find out who made FOX Sports Asia's Singapore Premier League (SPL) Team of the Week 14.
Delighted Klopp tells players to stay focused December 30, 2018 admin 0 Comments Football , Sport London - Jurgen Klopp refused to get carried away with the growing expectation that Liverpool can lift the league title for the first time in 29 years saying his players must stay focused after they thrashed Arsenal 5-1 on Saturday.
Delighted Klopp tells players to stay focussed - Pulse Nigeria
Reds will 'attack as a team' LONDON • Neither Trent Alexander-Arnold nor Andrew Robertson has Lionel Messi's star power, but the buccaneering Liverpool full-backs could play just as vital a role as the Barcelona captain in the first leg of their Champions League semi-finals today.
Cincinnati Reds Season Preview: Can offseason moves
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is determined to keep Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford at Old Trafford, saying the pair are vital to his plans of building a team "worthy of the
Solskjaer: Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford vital to Man Utd
League Two Newport's manager Justin Edinburgh has dedicated his team's shock 3-1 League Cup win over Championship Brighton to Byron Anthony. Anthony, who was captain for the night, suffered a
Sacked Mourinho heading back to Madrid?, Football News & Top
Man City end Newport's Cup dream to reach quarterfinals. City dominated possession with Sane grazing the bar and Mahrez going close but Newport were always a threat.
Manchester City end Newport's FA Cup dream as Brighton and
global.espn.com/football/english-fa-cup/story/3776583/manchester-city-end-newports-fa-cup-dream-as-brighton-and-millwall-advance
Newport County 1-4 Man City: Foden leads City through (2:19) Phil Foden and Manchester City put an end to Newport County's FA Cup run, beating the League Two side at Rodney Parade to reach the quarterfinals.
Manchester City end Newport's FA Cup dream as - espn.com
0 comments:
Post a Comment