It’s a repeat of final season’s Champions League closing as Liverpool face Actual Madrid within the first leg of huge last-16 conflict at Anfield. Actual got here out on prime in Paris, with Vinicius Jr scoring the one aim of the match as Carlo Ancelotti received the competitors for a file fourth time as a coach.Liverpool have been a good distance from the shape they confirmed final season, when threatening to win the quadruple. Nevertheless, there are indicators that Jurgen Klopp’s aspect might be beginning to click on into gear, with back-to-back wins over Everton and Newcastle conserving their prime 4 hopes alive. Darwin Nunez is match and begins for Liverpool, as does Virgil van Dijk.It is a huge step up although, in opposition to a Actual aspect which have been Champions League specialists over the previous decade. They received the Membership World Cup earlier this month, although they do path Barcelona by eight factors in La Liga. Karim Benzema is match to guide the road for Actual, with Rodrygo and Vinicius alongside him within the entrance three. Observe all of the motion with Normal Sport’s LIVE weblog beneath!Liverpool vs Actual Madrid newest newsLive updatesShow newest updates
1677008913Elsewhere in Europe…That is one in every of two Champions League matches happening tonight.Napoli, most likely one of the best staff in Europe to date this season, journey to Germany to face Eintracht Frankfurt within the first leg of their last-16 conflict.Hardly ever boring when Napoli are concerned!Getty Images1677008623Klopp’s pre-match ideas…“We’re excited, this can be a huge alternative. If you weren’t concerned you’ll positively watch it. It is a huge opponent.“The outcomes and the way in which we performed within the final two video games made us really feel like we made a step – now we now have to show that.“We need to choose up from Newcastle and go once more.”1677008398Familiar foes…“We now have a very good relationship, we spent a 12 months and a half collectively right here in Liverpool throughout the pandemic,” Ancelotti has stated of his relationship with Klopp.“We texted and he gave me items, it’s true. He’s a really lovable particular person.”Glad they get pleasure from one another’s firm off the pitch, as a result of Klopp might be fed up of seeing the Italian on the touchline.1677008037Making historical past!Stefan Bajcetic begins once more in midfield for Liverpool, alongside Fabinho and Jordan Henderson.He’s been actually spectacular in current weeks, incomes loads of reward from his supervisor. Now will get his probability on the largest stage.1677007581Klopp goes by means of ‘torture’Jurgen Klopp has opened up on rewatching Liverpool’s Champions League closing defeat to Actual Madrid for the primary time this week, forward of their reunion within the last-16.“I didn’t watch it again till this weekend and I do know why I didn’t watch it again now, it was correct torture,” he defined.“We performed a very good recreation and will have received the sport. They scored a decisive aim and we didn’t. You can see how skilled Madrid is.”Of Liverpool’s current upturn in type, Klopp added: “I’m actually completely satisfied we play it now. 4 weeks in the past it could have been totally different, however life is all about timing and possibly we discovered again our ft in time.”PA1677006755Ancelotti sends warning to Actual playersCarlo Ancelotti is anticipating Liverpool to place loads of stress on his Actual Madrid aspect tonight, warning his gamers they received’t have “time to breathe” at Anfield.“We’re up for it, we’re actually eager like final 12 months,” Ancelotti stated.“We all know it’s a extremely robust tie. Not simply this recreation, we now have to carry out properly right here and the return leg additionally.“Liverpool have by no means modified their high quality. We anticipate an intense recreation, we shall be underneath stress loads, a recreation the place we haven’t bought time to breathe.“We all know very properly what to anticipate and we’re ready for that.”AP1677006307Liverpool to avenge closing defeat?Heading into tonight’s conflict with Actual Madrid, Jurgen Klopp can take some consolation within the sense that his staff is on the point of rediscovering itself.A morale-boosting derby win over Everton was adopted by Saturday’s early blitz at Newcastle, with Liverpool hitting their stride simply in time for the return of a contest that defines their membership like no different – besides, after all, their opponents at Anfield.Learn Malik Ouzia’s full preview right here!Motion Photos by way of Reuters1677005390Henry: We’re not sellingLiverpool proprietor John W Henry says Fenway Sports activities Group (FSG) are usually not promoting the membership.In November FSG introduced it was taking a look at all choices because the membership bid to stay aggressive in an atmosphere wherein the likes of Manchester Metropolis and Newcastle have entry to very large monetary sources from Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia respectively and Chelsea’s new house owners have simply sanctioned greater than £500million of spending in two switch home windows.In a query and reply session with the Boston Sports activities Journal carried out over e-mail, Henry dominated out the prospect of FSG relinquishing possession.“I do know there was a variety of dialog and quotes about LFC however I maintain to the information: we merely formalised an ongoing course of,” stated Henry about November’s determination to discover the marketplace for traders.“Will we be in England endlessly? No. Are we promoting LFC? No. Are we speaking with traders about LFC? Sure.“Will one thing occur there? I imagine so, but it surely received’t be a sale. Have we offered something prior to now 20-plus years?”PA