Why Liverpool CAN pull off the impossible tonight! The rout of Man United shows they’re a threat, Real Madrid almost let a huge lead slip last season and they’ve won just once since playing at Anfield

Because Liverpool CAN do the impossible tonight! Manchester United’s defeat proves they are a threat, Real Madrid almost lost a huge lead last season and just won

They couldn’t… could they? After Real Madrid’s 5-2 humiliation against Liverpool at Anfield last month, it seems far from a mathematical certainty that the hosts will progress to Wednesday’s round at the Bernabeu in the second leg.

The reasons are clear: Real, with superstar Karim Benzema in attack, are the reigning European champions, the king of comebacks, three clean goals for and in front of their fans.

So it’s almost not worth it for Jurgen Klopp and company to come to Spain, or so the theory goes. Almost. Liverpool fans, faithful disciples, faithful dreamers, have seen too many miracles to accept.

Obviously, it is extremely unlikely that they will reverse the deficit. But Klopp and his players have a supernatural ability to cast resurrections that would put Lazarus to shame, Blancos are out of shape and Champions League scores are notoriously volatile.

Below, Sportsmail takes a look at why Liverpool can still pull off their Mission Impossible in the Spanish capital. Promotion seems inevitable after Real Madrid’s 5-2 win over Liverpool at Anfield last month

Jürgen Klopp and Co. face daunting task to reach Champions League quarter-finals

Below, Sportsmail examines why Liverpool fans have reason to hope for an unlikely comeback.

Liverpool are famous for their crazy comebacks

And Liverpool are also known for their unwavering attitude. In 2019, trailing 3-0 behind Barcelona in the first leg at Camp Nou, they returned to Anfield with no pressure on their shoulders and no hope in their hearts.

Divock Origi scored early to enliven the crowd before two goals from Georginio Wijnaldum within three minutes ignited Merseyside’s touch paper.

The Belgian’s second goal (corner shot quickly…ORIGIIII) secured a 4-0 win that night and a 4-3 aggregate victory in one of the most entertaining matches in recent history. This continued the precedent set by Klopp’s first major comeback, against German former club Borussia Dortmund, in the Europa League in 2016.

The score was 1–1 after the first leg in Westphalia but Dortmund scored twice in the first 10 minutes leaving Liverpool needing three goals.

Origi scored to reduce the deficit, but Marco Reus stepped up to ensure the Reds needed three more goals, this time in just half an hour.

In a very dramatic evening, Philippe Coutinho, Mamadou Sakho and then, in stoppage time, Dejan Lovren drove Anfield crazy.

Of course, unlike these examples, Wednesday’s second leg is away from home for Liverpool. But memories of those matches can lead fans and players to believe that anything is possible.

conquer the odds at the Bernabeu on Wednesday

Klopp and company beat United this month

To paraphrase the Grand Old Duke of York (the song, not the member of the royal family): when Liverpool are up, they’re up, and when they’re down, they’re down.

Form has been largely inconsistent this season, as evidenced by a timid 1-0 defeat at relegation contenders Bournemouth on Saturday, a dreadful 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace which the Eagles should have won three weeks ago , and disappointing 3-0 defeats to Brighton and Wolves in January and February.

However, in the last game before the Cherries defeat, they beat bitter rivals Manchester United 7-0. Seven zero. United of Ten Hag, whose winning record is over 70% and whose team have lost only once in their last 14 matches.

Liverpool tore them apart, dismantled them, decimated their style of play, leveled their players, their minds, their hearts and their guts and everything else in just 44 minutes of play.

When they sing, Liverpool are arguably one of the most destructive teams in the world. Real will pay attention to it.

Klopp and co slammed United this month

To paraphrase the Grand Old Duke of York (the song, not the royal): when Liverpool are up they are up, and when they are down they are down. Form has been largely inconsistent this season, as evidenced by a timid 1-0 defeat at relegation contenders Bournemouth on Saturday, a dreadful 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace which the Eagles should have won three weeks ago , and disappointing 3-0 defeats to Brighton and Wolves in January and February.

However, in the last game before the Cherries defeat, they beat bitter rivals Manchester United 7-0. Seven zero. United of Ten Hag, whose winning record exceeds 70% and whose team have only lost once in their last 14 games.

Liverpool took them apart, dismantled them, decimated their style of play, demolished their players, their minds, their hearts and guts and everything in between in just 44 minutes of play. When they sing, Liverpool are arguably one of the most destructive teams in the world. Real will pay attention to it.

The Merseyside side beat rivals Manchester United 7-0 and can beat anyone on their day

Striker Karim Benzema, who missed his last match through injury, dropped Tore

Another concern for Real boss Carlo Ancelotti will be his side’s failing form.

Since beating Liverpool, Los Blancos have won only once, with a 1-1 draw against ten-man Atletico Madrid, a 1-0 loss against Barcelona, ​​a goalless draw against the Real Betis and a 3-1 draw on Saturday. against Low Espanyol – including three at home.

After that, Liverpool’s match goals dried up for striker Karim Benzema, who missed the win over Espanyol but is set to return from injury. With David Alaba out and perhaps Frenchman Ferland Mendy also missing, veteran centre-back Nacho Fernandez or midfielder Eduardo Camavinga could be forced to replace left-back to counter Liverpool’s sharper rapier with Mohamed Salah.