Cristiano Ronaldo was crowned the world’s best player in January 2014, and Real Madrid became king of European soccer in May. Little has changed since then.
Liverpool visits Real Madrid on Tuesday in a Champions League Group B game. Liverpool’s next challenge will be its greatest one yet. The teams last met on Oct. 22 when Real Madrid strolled to a 3-0 win at Anfield.
That game showed the gulf in class between Liverpool and Europe’s elite, and Tuesday’s meeting at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium might do one of two things.
If Liverpool delivers a vintage performance and earns at least a point, it could inject a much-needed jolt of confidence into the squad and increase the Reds’ chances of progressing to the next round. However, if Liverpool falls, it could find itself firmly in a backs-against-the wall situation in Europe and facing a similar prospect domestically.
It bears repeating just how difficult a test this well be. Real Madrid has found its form, winning 11 straight games in all competitions. The red-hot Ronaldo has scored 17 goals this season and is one away from tying Raul’s record as the Champions League’s all-time leading scorer (with 71). To make matters worse, Gareth Bale has recovered from injury and will be included in Real Madrid’s gameday squad.
Daniel Sturridge traveled to Spain with Liverpool’s squad, but he won’t play Tuesday. Sturridge still is recovering from a calf injury, leaving the Reds without their primary goal threat.
Brendan Rodgers still can craft together a potent staring lineup. It’s a chance for the Liverpool manager to hone in on his best 11, but it also presents a challenge. Liverpool hosts Chelsea on Saturday, and Rodgers might leave a few regular starters on the bench Tuesday so that they’ll be fresh when the Premier League leader comes to Anfield. Rodgers might give a few squad players the chance to perform against Real Madrid in one of the most high-profile games of 2014.
Rodgers spoke about the balance between test and opportunity at his pregame press conference Monday.
“If we want to develop we need to ensure we are in the top four, but we also want to qualify from this group, and we will never know if these players can perform if we don’t put them in the team,” Rodgers said, according to the Guardian. “I am putting my faith in these players to perform. That is not being pragmatic. It is why you have a squad to come and get results. I see that we have spent an awful lot of money on players to come in and give them an opportunity to perform.”
Rodgers also made it clear that Liverpool’s key to success lies in its offensive and defensive intensity.
“There are many reasons why we are not at the level of the last 18 months, but we’ve got to forget about whining and moaning and complaining and find the best way to get the intensity back in our game. When we get the intensity back in our pressing and passing I think we are a very good team.”
The magnitude of the challenge is clear, as is the way to face it. Now it is up to Rodgers and his players to rise to the occasion.
Photo by LiverpoolFC.com
