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Liverpool are through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, with just seven teams standing in the way of a seventh trophy lift in the competition.
With the Premier League well out of reach, European success is the top priority for Arne Slot.
After a third-place finish in the league phase and a convincing win over Galatasaray, Liverpool will feel as though they can make up for a rather dismal domestic season with a deep run in the tournament.
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Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images
There will be no shortage of challenges along the way, though. We’ve pooled our minds together at Rousing The Kop to identify each remaining team’s biggest weapon that Liverpool could have to deal with in the latter stages of this season’s Champions League.
The biggest threats to Liverpool still in the Champions League Sporting CP – Luis Suarez
No, not that Luis Suarez.
The Sporting striker has been a revelation since taking over the role of talisman from Viktor Gyokeres. He has 28 goals so far this season, including five in Europe.
If Liverpool are to face Sporting, it could only be in the final. That’s a draw the Reds would relish, but it would require the Portuguese giants getting past Arsenal and one of Barcelona or Atletico Madrid.
Arsenal – The best defence in Europe
Again, Arsenal will only face Liverpool if both make it to the final. The biggest threat they have is a defensive solidity unmatched in Europe.
To be honest, their attack doesn’t look capable of winning the Champions League, but if they are in the final, it means their defence has been that good.
Liverpool have not lost to the Premier League leaders in two meetings this season, but if they can keep us from finding an attacking rhythm, it could be heartbreak in Budapest.
Atletico Madrid – Going behind
Another potential final matchup is against Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid. Liverpool emerged 3-2 victors when the two sides met at the start of the season thanks to some late heroics from Virgil van Dijk.
While they have quality in the forward areas too, the real danger with them is going behind in the final. We have seen on countless occasions over the years just how effective Simeone is at parking the bus.
With a Champions League trophy, he would complete his Atletico career. So if they were to go in front, we should expect a win-at-all-costs approach. Imperative that Liverpool score first if this matchup materialises.
Barcelona – Lamine Yamal
Not sure there’s much to say about Lamine Yamal that we don’t already know. The 18-year-old is already the best player on the planet (argue with the wall).
Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images
Barcelona’s defensive frailties are well-documented, but so is their ability to score at will.
With Pedri, the best midfielder in the world, pulling the strings behind the best player in the world — in what would be their first Champions League final — it’s a scary proposition. Liverpool would need a solid game plan to contain Yamal and hopefully exploit their high line to get the win.
Real Madrid – Kylian Mbappe
Similar to Yamal, Kylian Mbappe’s inclusion needs no explanation. As we saw in the last World Cup final, he lives for the big moments.
Madrid are on our side of the bracket, so that would be a semi-final clash. Slot would have to be feeling somewhat confident, having beaten Los Blancos twice since arriving at Anfield.
But we have been spurned by Madrid too many times not to expect a vastly improved outfit at the business end of the season. Mbappe will also be desperate to go all the way, having left PSG right before they did so last year.
Bayern Munich – Luis Diaz revenge
This is more of a personal fear, but I have a bad feeling about Luis Diaz.
Bayern are maybe the favourites to win the competition and have threats all over the pitch. The narrative just feels too perfect with the recently-departed Red.
Liverpool didn’t want to give him his payday, and the Colombian has been nothing short of world-class since moving to Germany. Especially considering the lack of defensive quality to defend his flank, he’s who I would be most concerned with if Liverpool meet Bayern in the semi-final.
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Photo Credit: Getty Images/Carl Recine PSG – The first leg
Now to our actual next opponents.
Liverpool face PSG in the quarter-finals in a rematch from last season. The eventual winners barely squeezed past us on penalties, but only because a first-leg masterclass from Alisson Becker at the Parc des Princes kept the Reds in striking distance.
The main concern is the first leg in Paris. Liverpool need to exercise severe caution.
PSG have all the quality to blow any team out of the water, and anything more than a two-goal deficit (preferably one goal) would present a task going back to Anfield that I’m not sure Liverpool are up to.
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