Liverpool have a chance to escape their domestic blues as they return to European action
Liverpool should resist the temptation to go on the attack in an attempt to beat Leipzig early on.
So says Danny Murphy, who has watched his former side slump to three consecutive defeats in the Premier League.
Tonight’s Champions League round of 16 tie at the Puskas Arena in Budapest represents a chance for Jurgen Klopp’s men to lift the negativity that’s descended upon the club in recent weeks.
A series of calamitous errors at the back has seen their hopes of retaining the title collapse, with victories for Chelsea and West Ham in recent days consigning the champions to sixth place in the table.
Murphy, who made 246 appearances for the club, insists Leipzig shouldn’t be taken lightly and that cutting out defensive mistakes has to be Klopp’s priority.
Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: “This is a tricky one this Leipzig game, because (Manchester) United smashed them at home 5-0 and ‘it’s just a team from Germany who have the odd good game’, if you beat them you should beat them and if you lose to them it’s a catastrophe.
“They’ve got quality. They’re a well-organised side so it’s a difficult one for Liverpool.
“I think for Liverpool going into this game it’s about cutting out the errors and putting in a good defensive display, not worrying about trying to impress everybody going on the front foot and pressing with this massive high line and trying to win the game in 20 minutes.
“Just be cautious and clever. I think Jurgen Klopp’s been around the block in Europe enough, I mean one Champions League win and a final the year before. He knows what he’s doing.
“I think they’ll get a result in this game. I don’t think Leipzig are as good an opposition as they could have had and it’s a decent draw for Liverpool.”
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