Rafael Benitez has warned Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp on Sky Sports Premier League (7:44pm, February 18, 2023) about the prospect of facing Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior in the UEFA Champions League next week.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool will lock horns with Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid at Anfield in the first leg of the Round of 16 tie in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday evening.
Benitez managed both Liverpool and Madrid.
And the former Newcastle United boss believes that Madrid and Brazil international winger Vinicius will be a threat against Liverpool.
Rafael Benitez on Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior v Liverpool
Benitez said: “One of the strengths of Liverpool is the full-backs going really high and really wide. One of the problems sometimes is a big gap.
“We talk about Real Madrid and Vinicius, he is running into this space, the channel, behind Alexander-Arnold.
“So, that is something that I am sure Klopp will manage and Ancelotti will be thinking about.”
Big threat
In our view, Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior will be a massive threat against Liverpool.
Now, the 22-year-old £186,000-a-week (SalarySport) has not been at his best in recent times, but we know just how good the Brazilian is.
Let us not forget that the youngster scored 17 goals and gave 10 assists in La Liga and scored scored four goals and provided six assists in the UEFA Champions League last season.
The Brazilian has scored four goals and given one assist in the UEFA Champions League already this campaign.
Liverpool are not looking particularly great at the back at the moment, and even though the match on Tuesday is at Anfield, Madrid will fancy their chances.
Vinicius Junior is very quick and is brilliant on his ball, and he could really hurt Liverpool if they leave space for him.
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