LIVERPOOL are looking to put last year’s Champions League final nightmare behind them as they face Real Madrid once again.
Jurgen Klopp claimed it was “torture” even watching the clash in Paris back on video.
The defeat was all the more agonising for the fact that the Reds dominated most of the match while Carlo Ancelotti’s side relied on an inspired Thibaut Courtois to see them through.
But there was one individual battle in which Liverpool will have to do better this time around.
Despite Karim Benzema winning the Ballon d’Or, Vinicius Jr was the key man in the French capital back in May.
The Brazilian scored the only goal as he stole in behind Trent Alexander-Arnold, who appeared not to anticipate his run.
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Former Reds boss Rafa Benitez knows a thing or two about beating Real Madrid, having secured a whopping 5-0 aggregate win in 2009.
And he says the Reds holding midfielders and centre-backs will be key in stopping Vinicius.
Benitez told The Times: “Vinicius Jr scored at the far post ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold, but it is unfair to blame the Liverpool defender for the outcome that night.
“If you look at the build-up, Real beat Liverpool’s press a number of times. This was not a goal where one player was caught out.
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“Vinicius can follow his rival, Alexander-Arnold, but he will not do that all game because it is not his mentality.
“So if Real regain the ball and can then avoid the first pressing line of Liverpool, there could be a big gap for them to exploit.
“Liverpool will know that this means the centre-back, Joel Matip or Joe Gomez, or the right-sided central midfielder, Jordan Henderson, must be alert to protect this space.
“Also, when both teams play 4-3-3, the holding midfielder is an important position.
“The player is free sometimes and both teams will want someone dropping into the No6 role and trying to disrupt their rhythm.
“Real manage the ball well and can be dangerous on the counter-attack because they have pace and they are precise.
“But if Liverpool can regain the ball quickly, that will make it very difficult.”
Benitez also feels Stefan Bajcetic could prove an unknown quantity and secret weapon for Liverpool against Real Madrid.
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He said of the Spaniard: “From the displays I have seen, he is tactically good, takes up good positions in midfield and can anticipate what is going on.
“He will help Liverpool’s press.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
