No Comments

Aldridge’s Expectations

Real Madrid are going into this as favourites but there are areas Liverpool can exploit.

Posted by Andy Thompson
Decrease Font Size Increase Font Size Text Size Print This Page

I think both teams will be looking at defensive errors from the opposition and punish their individual errors. At the back, we are both a bit shaky. Their goalkeeper and back four have not impressed me this season. Although the Reds have improved massively at the back since van Dijk came into the team, it is still considered a weak point and the full-backs are young and inexperienced. Liverpool to win to zero is 5/1 with RedsBet.

We’re brilliant going forward, they’re brilliant going forward. There will be many goals, I am sure about that and both teams will score. Maybe on the day, the outcome is decided by the team that defends better. In my opinion, and this might sound mad to some people, but it’s 50/50 as I see it. We have not lost any more players to injury, thankfully, and the two week break since the Premier League finished has given Klopp and the team plenty of time to prepare.

Obviously, we have to keep Ronaldo quiet, we all know that. Whether Bale will start or not, I don’t know, but he is dangerous coming off the bench. Modric is brilliant in midfield, but we shouldn’t forget that we’ve got some brilliant players as well. Salah to score and Liverpool to win 2-1, 3-1 or 3-2 in normal time is 7/1.

Some of our rivals’ supporters seem to think Liverpool has had an easy run to Kyiv. Perhaps they forget that we had two extra games, having to go through the qualifiers early on against Hoffenheim. It has been the perfect run in the competition if you ask me.

It’s been the kind of build-up that you want. Liverpool fans were disappointed with the lack of the “big teams” in the group stages but that’s the way it should be. You get the smaller teams out of the way early on and then it slowly starts to build on the way to the final. You want to play the big teams towards the end of the competition and meeting the most successful team in Europe in the final is the climax everyone wants.

And let’s not forget the quarterfinals, we played the blues from Manchester. Manchester City were the favourites to go all the way, but we knocked them out easily. Brushed them aside as if they were nothing. And then there was Roma, who have been in the competition for 20 odd years on the bounce. They were certainly not an easy meet, but Liverpool have been fantastic. Roma managed to knock Barcelona out and not us. You can look at it both ways.

That’s the ideal sort of competition. You want to start meeting the big boys in the quarterfinals. Everybody wants a bit of luck on the way, and who wouldn’t fancy getting to the knockout stages by avoiding playing your Munichs and Madrids and Barcelonas. That goes without saying.

Sure, Real Madrid has had a difficult couple of last games, facing Juventus and Bayern Munich. But nothing is easy in the Champions League and you can only beat the team that’s in front of you.

I’d like to think Liverpool will win it, but I’m certain both teams will score.

Liverpool to win and both teams to score in normal time is 11/4.

Leave a comment