According to pundit Chris Waddle, Liverpool will not be scared of anyone in the Champions League after dumping out Manchester City in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.
The Reds secured their place in the semi-finals of the Champions League with a 2-1 away victory at Manchester City last night, winning 5-1 on aggregate, thanks to a 3-0 home leg victory last week.
Overcoming a 3-0 deficit from the first leg was always going to be a task for City but they had the best of starts when Gabriel Jesus scored one just after two minutes.
However, the Reds defended resiliently in the first-half and scored two goals via Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, to clinch the game subsequently.
Former England international Chris Waddle feels Jurgen Klopp’s Reds are now second favourites behind Real Madrid to win the Champions League this campaign.
“Realistically, after knocking out Manchester City 5-1 on aggregate, you would now put Jurgen Klopp’s side as second favourites behind Real to win the tournament – well, I would anyway,” Waddle was quoted by BBC Sport.
“In a one-off game like the final in Kiev, I definitely think Liverpool can beat Real but, over two legs, it will be a lot harder and I hope they get someone else in the draw.”
Real Madrid, the current holders of the Champions League, beat Juventus in a dramatic manner, as they let go of a 3-0 away goal lead to score in the final moments of the game to go through to the semi-finals of the Champions League, 4-3 on aggregate. Meanwhile, Bayern drew 0-0 with Sevilla in the second leg to go through 2-1 on aggregate.
AS Roma stunned Barcelona last night, having turned around a staggering three-goal deficit to clinch a 4-4 aggregate scoreline and secure a semi-final berth on away goal rule.
While Liverpool will fancy Roma in the semi-finals of the competition, Waddle thinks Klopp’s men should instead look for a glitz and glamour tie against Bundesliga champions, Bayern.
“When I’ve watched all the teams so far, I think Roma will be a good game for them because Italian football is quite slow. It would suit Liverpool with the way they play,” he added.
“But I think Bayern Munich would be ideal for them. I watched Bayern Munich recently, the Sevilla game, and Sevilla could have scored numerous, numerous goals.
“It was ridiculous how many goals they could’ve scored. They didn’t take them, Bayern punished them.
“Bayern still have got quality players, like [Robert] Lewandowski, we all know. But they’re not the Bayern they were two or three years ago, for me.”
Liverpool outclassed City over two legs in the quarter-finals to claim a deserving semi-final berth. Whoever our next opponent might be, Klopp’s men will be confident of putting up a fight to win the contest.
