After labouring to a last gasp win against bottom of the barrel Queens Park Rangers on Sunday, there’s absolutely no question that Liverpool are going to have to do better if they’re going to get anything at all when they host Real Madrid at Anfield on Wednesday.
To be fair, when I say “anything”, that’s very much open to interpretation and really does range from snatching up three points to getting out of the stadium with their pride still in tact. Following the debacle at Loftus Road, it’s one thing for the players to not only acknowledge that their performance as a whole was no where near acceptable, but to promise a better one against the reigning European champions, and it’s another one to actually do it. Let’s be honest — we’ve got everything to do.
That phrase is a bit double ended in itself. While a complete 180-performance wise will be the only thing that will see us grasp even a point tomorrow, in a lot of ways, doing anything but will really put our backs against the wall. With only three points to our name and a home and away with Real Madrid coming up, getting out of the Group Stages is looking a lot harder than it sounded when the groups were announced at the end of August.
Our failure to beat FC Basel at home after sneaking past Bulgarian outfit PFC Ludogrets in our opening match really put a dent in our hopes of progression and Los Blancos could all but nail our coffins closed should they sweep this tie. We’ve accomplished some astounding things in this competition with players that were arguably less talented than our current crop, and despite confidence down in the dumps, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers believes his players will respond to the unique challenge a side the quality of Real Madrid pose.
“Whenever you play in the big games the great competitors come out and I have no doubt with my players as their mentality is very strong,” said the Northern Irishman ahead of tomorrow’s clash. “It is a really exciting game on Wednesday. The work we put in over the last season or so means this is our reward but it is a game we want to go and win. Anfield is a special place for a Champions League football game and we are really looking forward to it.”
There’s no denying that; it’s been five years since we’ve welcomed a European powerhouse to Anfield in the most prestigious cup competition the continent has to offer and win, lose or draw, it’s going to be a special night. With our current results on the high end of low, it’s hard to visualize an upset, but then when you think back to the last time Los Blancos came to town, how can you not dream a little dream?
That’s what this football thing is all about isn’t it?
–Steven
