Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has urged for a ‘much improved performance’ from his side as they take on reigning European Champions Real Madrid at Anfield tonight. Liverpool were poor but lucky to beat Queens Park Rangers on Sunday in the Premier League. However Gerrard has warned that any repeat of such a performance will lead to utter embarrassment against the Galacticos.
Gerrard claimed, “I think every player in the dressing room realises that we can’t have any passengers against opposition of Real Madrid’s quality or we will get beat convincingly.”
“That applies to me personally as well. Everyone who is picked for the Real Madrid game, from the starting 11 to the subs, has to be on their game. We are playing against the best side in Europe and, if we have just two or three passengers, it can become embarrassing. We need to be right on it because sides as good as Real Madrid can be deadly on the counterattack away from home.”
The Reds have three points from 2 games since their return to the top tier of European competition after a long absence of 5 and a half years. They were lucky to see off Ludogorets in the opening match day but a pathetic performance saw them lose 1-0 to Swiss side FC Basel. Real though on the other hand, have been in inspiring form and will be looking to muster three points from the encounter.
History: The last time both these sides met in 2009, Liverpool swept aside the La Liga giants by 4-0 at Anfield. Gerrard bragged a brace, Fernando Torres was in red hot form and even left back Andrea Dossena got his name on the score-sheet. How times change!
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