A supercomputer has delivered its verdict on Liverpool’s path to Champions League victory after the Reds booked their place in the semi-finals on Wednesday night.
Rotating his side for the second leg tie against Benfica, Jurgen Klopp made seven changes to the team that faced Manchester City last weekend. Ibrahima Konate’s opener and Roberto Firmino’s brace were enough to send the Reds through on aggregate , despite the Portuguese side fighting back to a 3-3 draw.
It means Liverpool will now battle Villarreal for a place in the final after the Spanish side overcame Bayern Munich earlier this week. An 88th minute strike from Samuel Chukwueze was enough to send Unai Emery’s side through to the semi-final stage for only the second time in the club’s history.
ANALYSIS: Jurgen Klopp faces major Man City headache as key absence clear
HAVE YOUR SAY: Rate the Liverpool players after 3-3 Champions League draw against Benfica
Having assessed all the relevant data, the supercomputer at Project FiveThirtyEight has given Jurgen Klopp’s side an 80% chance of making it to the Final, the highest of any of the four sides still left in the competition. However, Manchester City are narrowly behind with a probability of 74%.
While last season’s Europa League winners Villarreal are given a 20% chance of progressing past Liverpool, 13-time winners of the competition Real Madrid are given a marginally better 26% shot to get the better of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester. In terms of lifting the trophy, Villarreal are given a lowly 6%, with Real Madrid still given just a 10% chance.
As a result, it means that there is nothing to split between Liverpool and City, with both given a 42% chance of winning this season’s final. It is a prediction that has also played out in reality so far this term, with both league fixtures involving the pair ending 2-2.
Having reached two Champions League Finals in his time with the Reds and lifted the trophy in 2019, Jurgen Klopp would have a recent historical edge over his City counterpart, if they were to meet in the final. And the Liverpool boss will get another opportunity to test himself against Pep Guardiola this weekend, when the two sides meet once again, this time in an FA Cup semi-final.
