Trent Alexander-Arnold sees the second leg against Real Madrid as a game with “nothing to lose”

Speaking with Liverpool Echo (h/t Mirror), Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold sees the second leg of the Champions League tie against Real Madrid as a game with “nothing to lose”.

The Reds go to Madrid with the monumental task of overturning a three-goal deficit in this last-16 tie. Not only does that sound impossible, but the prospect of winning the game at the Santiago Bernabeu is tough enough.

We have witnessed Jurgen Klopp’s side overturning the same scoreline against Barcelona. But that was at Anfield. Doing the same thing against a better side at their home is a fairy-tale territory.

For that reason, while Alexander-Arnold wants to make history, he knows this is a game with less pressure. Here’s what he said (h/t Mirror):

“We’re going to have to go and do something special in Spain, to be honest. But, you know, it’s one of them where it’s similar to the Barcelona game where we kind of go over there with nothing to lose.

“They are the one with a three-goal lead and you know if we come out of there and we don’t win then OK, we were three goals down, it is what it is. So we don’t feel any pressure.”

If Alexander-Arnold is trying to put pressure on Madrid by saying these things, it won’t work. Carlo Ancelotti’s men have seen it all. They don’t get fazed by any situation, let alone a healthy one where they have to defend a three-goal lead at home.

While this is a game with nothing to lose for Liverpool, they have to make sure of not losing the second leg. They need to restore some of the lost pride at Anfield three weeks ago.

It would be tough without captain Jordan Henderson though, who is ruled out for this game due to illness. Thiago Alcantara has anyway been a long-term absentee due to a hip injury.

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• Barcelona set £53m price tag on Liverpool target Ansu Fati

It will be interesting to see what Jurgen Klopp does with those absentees in midfield. He cannot go with Stefan Bajcetic and Harvey Elliott alongside Fabinho, can he? Maybe, an opportunity for James Milner to come in and be a voice in the middle of the park.