Rodrygo has opened up on how he and his Real Madrid team-mates are ‘ready’ to face Liverpool in the Champions League.
The Reds take on the La Liga giants in the last 16 of European football's top club competition. Liverpool welcome Madrid to Anfield for the first leg next Tuesday before the return visit to Spain on March 15.
Jurgen Klopp's side will be facing Madrid for the first time since they were beaten by them in last season's Champions League final. That night in Paris Liverpool suffered a 1-0 defeat at the Stade de France, with Vinicius Jr scoring the only goal of the game.
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The Reds side have not won any of their last six meetings with Madrid, scoring just two goals in those matches. Despite this, Rodrygo says he expects the first leg at Anfield to be a tough encounter or the defending champions.
“The game there is going to be very difficult, we already know this,” Rodrygo told Goal.
“Playing against Liverpool is always difficult whether with or without fans, but at Anfield even more. We are ready.”
Rodrygo came on as a late substitute for Vinicius Jr in last season's final and also stepped off the bench when Madrid knocked the Reds out of the quarter-finals of the 2020-21 Champions League. Both games were played without supporters due to coronavirus.
The Brazilian is typically a winger but he has been used as a central striker this season due Karim Benzema's injury. But now the current Ballon d'Or holder has returned to fitness - Benzema scored as Carlo Ancelotti's side beat Al-Hilal 5-3 at the weekend to win the FIFA Club World Cup - Rodrygo has explained the role he could play against Liverpool.
“In the 4-2-3-1, behind Karim, it’s the position I like the most and everyone knows this. I always talk to the coach,” he said.
“Of course, I can play in all positions, but that’s where I feel most comfortable when it comes to playing. I played a very good game against Elche there.”
In La Liga, Madrid are in second place and 11 points behind leaders Barcelona, albeit with a game in hand. Despite the points deficit, Rodrygo believes that past success shows that it’s still possible they can win the title this season.
“It’s always possible, we have to believe until the end,” said the 22-year-old. “I think that, in my first season, we were also far behind Atletico and then we came back.
“it’s very difficult but we are going to try to go back and win all the remaining games. Let’s see what happens.”
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