Why Liverpool can win the UEFA Champions League
Why they can win it
The similarity to the 2018/19 Champions League-winning campaign is that domestically Liverpool are chasing a rampant Manchester City, and it seems that having such an objective always brings the best out of Jürgen Klopp’s team. When they hit top form, and everything works in devastating harmony, it’s hard to see anyone coping with them. If you add in the Anfield factor, anything is possible.
Record v semifinal opponents Villarreal: P2 W1 D0 L1 F3 A1
Uefa ranking: 3
European Cup best: winners (1976/77, 1977/78, 1980/81, 1983/84, 2004/05, 2018/19)
Last season: quarterfinals (L 1-3 agg v Real Madrid)
Last semifinal: 2018/19 (W 4-3 agg v Barcelona)
This season
Record: W8 D1 L1 F25 A11
Top scorer: Mohamed Salah (8)
Quarterfinals: 6-4 agg v Benfica
Round of 16: 2-1 agg v Inter
Group B: winners
Campaign so far
Liverpool have faced stiff competition – indeed, of their opponents so far, only Atlético have never won the competition. This makes it even more impressive that they sport a near-perfect record: ten games and just one loss in the second leg against Inter. In fact, it was only the Nerazzurri who consistently troubled Klopp’s side, but like any great team they found a way to win.
How they play
Klopp rarely deviates from his tried and tested 4-3-3 formation – a system that has served the Reds wonderfully well since the German’s arrival in 2015. Their high-intensity pressing has been refined in recent seasons – with a little help from smart acquisitions such as Diogo Jota and Luis Díaz – but it remains just as effective. At their best, they are arguably Europe’s finest side.
Key player: Mohamed Salah
The Egypt forward has been the face of this Liverpool side since arriving from Roma in 2017. A star at Basle, he first landed in England with Chelsea in 2014 but has proved a major talent on Merseyside, his pace, intelligence and finishing helping him bag 33 Champions League goals for the club.
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Coach: Jürgen Klopp
Liverpool boss since 2015, Klopp guided the Reds to continental glory in 2018/19 and to their first English title in 30 years the next season. A striker turned defender at Mainz, he lifted two Bundesliga titles with Dortmund before heading to Anfield.
Did you know?
Liverpool have been European champions six times – more than any other English team. That is as many titles as Bayern, with Milan and Real Madrid the only clubs to have won more.