In theory, the schedule could not be any heavier for the “Red Brigade”, when Liverpool must continuously meet the reigning Champions League champion and the reigning Premier League champion in the next 5 days (November 27 and December 1). In addition, there is another “horrifying” theory when Real Madrid is not only the reigning champion but also the greatest team in the history of the Champions League. Meanwhile, the reigning champion Man City is the biggest monument in the Premier League for about ten years. Will they stop Liverpool? Or, as people say, bring Real and City to Liverpool?
Significant difference between the two battles
Liverpool seem to be very lucky to be facing Real Madrid and Man City at the moment. The team led by coach Arne Slot is going like a storm the Jilipark, holding the top position in both major tournaments. They are 8 points ahead of the second team in the Premier League and are the only team to have won absolutely in the Champions League.
Meeting strong opponents is inevitable. So, meeting the strongest opponent right when you are in your best form is a wonderful thing, a blessing that not every team has. This detail is too obvious and simple.
As careful as Liverpool must be against Real and City, the other two strong teams must be just as cautious, and they themselves are even more discouraged when facing Liverpool at this time. The mental factor is completely behind Liverpool, because they are facing a situation where they can only gain, but lose nothing. Losing is fine, drawing is gaining more than losing, and winning is winning everything.
In the new format, a series of strong teams such as Arsenal, Man City, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid… are currently jostling in the middle of the table in the “league” stage.
Real’s specific position at the moment is 18/36. Paris SG is even at the bottom of the table, which means it is in the group of 12 teams that will stop when the “league” stage ends. But of course, few people think that these “giants” will eventually be eliminated. So, the top team Liverpool is of course not in trouble in case of losing to Real in this midweek series.
That is a notable difference in the importance of the two matches Liverpool – Real and Liverpool – Man City. If given a choice, Arne Slot and his team would definitely choose to win against Man City in the Premier League. The gap is still a very safe 5 points, if Liverpool lose at home at Anfield (this possibility is not high).
On the contrary, if Liverpool win, they will be 11 points ahead of Man City and the race is almost over in that situation. For Liverpool, maintaining an 8-point gap with Man City is also a significant achievement. It is likely that the match against Man City on Sunday night will be the decisive milestone for Liverpool this season.
In the Champions League, the story is different. Once it is decided which teams go straight to the round of 16, which teams have to play in the play-offs, and which teams are eliminated, the results of the matches played in the “league” stage are meaningless.
Liverpool’s specific capabilities
If they have to “rotate the squad” to keep their key players, Liverpool will prioritize the victory over Man City, as mentioned above. However, that does not mean that Arne Slot’s team will “give up” the match against Real.
On the one hand, Liverpool has the home advantage. On the other hand, even if the specific result is not very important, Liverpool still needs a “watchable” performance in front of the Anfield audience. If Liverpool wins this match, it will be the “final verdict” for the Liverpool – Real match, because the new format of the Champions League does not have a second leg match in this period (for Real to take revenge, or save face).
Obviously, coach Arne Slot needs the title of “winning against Real” to strengthen both his confidence and reputation, on the way to realizing his ambitions. In the previous series of matches, Liverpool crushed Leverkusen 4-0, and that was also the match that made Slot famous.
When Jurgen Klopp left, it was widely assumed that Xabi Alonso would replace him as Liverpool manager. He was a former Liverpool player who played brilliantly in the legendary 2005 Champions League final. Alonso was a coaching sensation last season, leading Leverkusen to the Bundesliga title. And he has the Spanish label, the world’s number one coaching brand at the moment.
But Liverpool chose Slot. And Slot just beat Alonso’s team 4-0! Now it’s Carlo Ancelotti’s Real, then Pep Guardiola’s Man City. Slot “hasn’t missed a single shot” against 3 consecutive monuments like that, he officially became famous!
Liverpool could have dropped points, or even lost to bottom-placed Southampton in last weekend’s Premier League match. But Mohamed Salah scored twice as the leaders came from 1-2 down to win 3-2. That’s not a drop in form.
On the contrary, that is the nature of a title contender: even when they are not in the best form, they still have to win. After the internationals, observers often expect a surprise result in the club arena. Liverpool may have stumbled because of “FIFA Days”, and in fact they have struggled. But they still won!
The away teams Real and Man City are the teams that need to win more in the upcoming two big matches. Choosing an attacking style of play on the opponent’s field is always dangerous, it can easily lead to counter-attacks when both sides are at the same level.
This detail is very favorable for Liverpool. On the one hand, Liverpool is the best defense team in the Premier League at the moment. They have also only conceded 1 goal in the Champions League. On the other hand, when Man City continuously lost in recent matches, everyone pointed out their fatal weakness: they cannot deal with the opponent’s counter-attacks or quick attacks.
