Former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez believes that Trent Alexander-Arnold will have to get the better of Vinicius Junior if Jurgen Klopp’s side are to beat Real Madrid.
Liverpool host Real in the first leg of their much-anticipated last-16 tie in the Champions League on Tuesday night. The match is a repeat of last season’s final at the Stade de France in which Vinicius’ goal was the difference between the two sides in a 1-0 win for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Real have been boosted by the availability of star striker Karim Benzema after he missed the 2-0 win over Osasuna on the weekend. But Benitez, who oversaw Liverpool’s famous 2005 Champions League winning campaign, believes that the key battle will take place on the flank between the Reds’ right-back and Real’s fleet-footed winger.
“One of Liverpool’s strengths is the right back and one of Real’s strengths is the left wing. They will not change, so it will be an interesting battle again,” Benitez wrote for The Times. “Vinicius can follow his rival, Alexander-Arnold, but he will not do that all game because that is not his mentality.
“So if Real regain the ball, and can then avoid the first pressing line of Liverpool, there could be a big gap for them to try to exploit.
“Liverpool will know that it means the centre back, Joel Matip or Joe Gomez, or the right-sided central midfielder, Jordan Henderson, must be alert to cover and protect this space. The match-up between Alexander-Arnold and Vinicius could be key.”
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Vinicius’ winning goal in the Champions League final last season came about after he got the better of Alexander-Arnold. With Federico Valverde advancing down Real’s right-hand side, Vinicius ghosted in behind Alexander-Arnold to get on the end of his powerful low cross to the back post.
Klopp is well aware of the threat the Brazilian star poses – and he has told his player to double up on him at all times. "As far as I know, he's a world-class player. You should not leave him alone in one-on-one situations or alone [full stop],” he said in his pre-match press conference on Monday.
"He was that night [Champions League final], with a really young age, didn't get fazed by the way the game went, how they were not always dominant and stuff like that. He was there in the decisive moment, I'm pretty sure that already makes him a Real Madrid legend at a very young age. I hope he's not fazed by any idiots who say something about him."
Real will be without Toni Kroos and Aurelien Tchouameni for the first leg, with both midfielders out injured. Eduardo Camavinga and Dani Ceballos have started the past two matches alongside Luka Modric in midfield and are likely to keep their places at Anfield.
Liverpool’s injury problems have eased, with Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino back available, but Ibrahima Konate and Thiago Alcantara remain on the sidelines.
