Liverpool must score two goals and not concede after their 3-1 defeat in the first leg. That is easy to say and more difficult to do against a team such as Real Madrid.
But what I am sure about is that Liverpool will have chances with the attacking players they have and then it is about whether they can take those opportunities. If they score early, then that is obviously good. If they do not, then there is no need to panic and even if Real score then there is no need to think that the tie is over. We know that Liverpool are capable of scoring three goals.
This game is about two things: intensity and calm. Liverpool need to be intense against Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, which they did not do well enough in the first game. At the same time, that does not mean running all over the pitch and losing organisation. They must follow their game plan and they must be compact in everything they do. If we are looking for improvements from the first game, then Jürgen Klopp might say that his team needs to play closer together in order to help each other out and cover for each other.
I was not surprised that Real played a lot of long balls over the top last week. Liverpool play a high defensive line and that will be a tactic Real look to deploy again because I do not think that Jürgen will change the system or the shape of his team. But then you have to be especially aware of opponents running in behind and the concentration among the defenders is so important.
If Thiago Alcântara plays, and remember that he did not start the first game, in which Naby Keita was preferred, then he can be a key player. He offers composure, quality on the ball and he has the characteristics to see the pass.
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Alcântara can dictate the tempo in the same way that Kroos and Modric do. Those two have team-mates running and linking around them, but they are the ones who offer control.
There has been a lot of discussion about the form of Alcântara, but the pace of the Premier League is even higher than what he was used to in the Bundesliga. The fact that he had a serious knee injury, suffered from Covid-19 and joined a team that has been unsettled are all reasons why — regardless of what a good player he is — it may have been difficult for him to adapt.
Give him time and he has the quality to be a really important player for Liverpool but, of course, it would help if he could make a difference now given the situation of the tie.
When you have someone who has a picture of the whole pitch in his head, it means that they can switch the play and pick out the front players, which is where Liverpool’s strength lies.
This is especially important should Real switch to a back five because of their injury problems in defence. That would not be unusual for them, as Zinédine Zidane chose to move from a back four to a five in the second leg of the previous round against Atalanta, when they had a lead to protect. He also moved to a back five in the final minutes against Barcelona on Saturday, and they saw out a 2-1 win.
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Álvaro Odriozola and Marcelo came on as substitutes and were on either side of Éder Militão, Nacho and Ferland Mendy. While it is not certain that they will use that system it is a possibility but it isn’t a negative move.
Real will know that they are not through but will arrive at Anfield with confidence because they have a good record in the knockout stages. They enjoy the pressure of these matches.
Their key player will be Casemiro. Everyone focuses on the goals of Karim Benzema, or the pace of Vinícius Júnior, who scored twice a week ago, but Casemiro gives them balance. He is so important.
● Rafa Benítez managed Liverpool from 2004 to 2010 and Real Madrid from 2015 to 2016. He has been watching and analysing games since leaving Dalian Pro in China, to prepare for a return to management
Liverpool (1) v Real Madrid (3)
Champions League quarter-final, second leg
Kick-off 8pm
TV Live on BT Sport 2
