According to Premier League legend Alan Shearer, the Champions League quarter-final clash between Liverpool and Manchester City is not over yet and the Reds should not underestimate City in the second-leg.
The Reds crushed City 3-0 in the first leg of Champions League quarter-final tie at Anfield on Wednesday. By doing so, they took a firm grip on the fixture and have put a foot in the semi-finals of the elite competition.
Mohamed Salah continued his rich vein of form by netting the opening goal for Liverpool before getting injured in the second-half. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain made it 2-0 with a 20-yard thunderbolt before Sadio Mane netted in the 31st minute to make it 3-0 for the hosts.
The second-half saw Jurgen Klopp’s men defend very well against City’s attackers to keep the scoreline at 3-0. The first-leg scoreline has put the Reds in a commanding position and we will now head into the return leg at the Etihad on Tuesday knowing that an away goal would instantly kill the fixture.
However, former England and Newcastle striker Alan Shearer believes that Klopp and co. would be wise not to deem this tie as done, despite them being in a very strong position.
“I think it would take a brave person to say this tie is over, despite the scoreline,” Shearer wrote in his column for Coral.
“If City get an early goal in the second leg, it will make it very interesting.
“Liverpool will have to assess the injury to Salah, it would be a huge blow if he was to miss the next game, while Jordan Henderson will be out through suspension after he picked up another yellow card.”
Liverpool totally dominated City in the first leg and Pep Guardiola had no plan B to change the course of the game. City have been a brute force this season and to see them being ruthlessly swatted away by Klopp’s men was indeed astonishing to watch.
The Reds have a very good advantage and they should try to nick an away goal as early as possible.
