Spanish media have reacted to Liverpool's 2-0 win over Newcastle United on Saturday evening ahead of the huge match with Real Madrid in the Champions League.
The press over in Spain have been keeping a keen eye on Liverpool's form since it was confirmed in November that there would be a repeat of the 2022 Champions League final in this season's last-16.
Liverpool face a tricky task given the Reds do not boast a good recent record against the reigning European champions. Here is what the media in Spain are saying...
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Spanish outlet Diario AS highlighted the 2-0 win over Everton in the Merseyside derby last week as the moment "everything began to change". After the win over Newcastle on Saturday evening, the Spanish outlet described the victory as a "light of hope appearing" following a season which had taken a "wobbly course".
The report claimed the Reds are "showing their teeth" once again and said: "The light of hope has appeared when the chants of crisis resounded like never before in the Klopp stage." In another passage, the AS journalist said: "It still rains on the banks of the Mersey, but less".
Mohamed Salah was also praised by the author: "In the last two [games] he has signed a goal and an assist. With the plus that the Champions League supposes for the Egyptian, a competition where he has shown his most recognizable face (seven goals and an assist in the first phase).
"Ingredients that, together with the [rest of the attack] complete a dangerous cocktail for Madrid. Much more than the lukewarm version that emerged after the debacles against Brighton and Wolverhampton. Liverpool shows its teeth."
Marca, however, weren't as complimentary towards the Reds, stating the match at Newcastle could have been a lot different had Miguel Almiron managed to beat Alisson Becker in the opening stages.
Their piece said: "The game script, it must be said, could have been very different. Alisson saved a one-on-one with Almiron at four minutes after a good 'slalom' from Saint-Maximin."
The reporter added that "symptoms of crisis" were still present in a victory that was "more deceptive than the score indicates". But there was big praise for Stefan Bajcetic and his role in the second goal: "The Spanish Stefan Bajcetic, chosen Liverpool's 'MVP' in January, launched the counterattack and, this time, it was Salah who broke the defense with a 'surgical' pass for Gakpo. The Dutchman, recently arrived from PSV, did not forgive in the one-on-one...and has chained two games scoring."
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