AFP
Liverpool are badly in need of a Champions League lift to save their season, but with Jurgen Klopp’s men seemingly devoid of confidence and showing signs of physical and mental fatigue, RB Leipzig are far from perfect opponents in the last 16.
Julian Nagelsmann has the chance to inflict more misery on Jurgen Klopp when the two German coaching heavyweights do battle as RB Leipzig take on Liverpool in the first leg of their last 16 Champions League tie on Tuesday.
Klopp, 53, has earned cult status on Merseyside having ended Liverpool’s 30-year-wait to be crowned English league champions in 2019/20, the season after lifting the Champions League.
Twenty years his junior, Nagelsmann is seen as a rising star. Under his stewardship, Leipzig announced their presence on the Champions League stage last season by reaching the semi-finals and dumped out Manchester United to reach the knockout stages this campaign. Barred from entering Germany due to coronavirus restrictions, the English champions head to Budapest for Tuesday’s first leg on the back of three wins in their last 12 games in all competitions.
That run has ended their chances of silverware by retaining their league title or lifting the FA Cup, leaving the Champions League as Liverpool'’ only route to glory this season.
However, there is little reason to believe there is a revival on the horizon for a squad that has been hamstrung by injuries all season and badly in need of rejuvenation.
The loss of three centre-backs -- the talismanic Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip -- to season-ending injuries has had a devastating impact on Liverpool's season.
Midfielders Fabinho and Jordan Henderson have been forced to deputise at the heart of the defence.
Without them, Liverpool's bite to quickly recoup possession in midfield has gone as has the pace of Van Dijk and Gomez to defend a high line.
To compound matters, goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who has been fundamental to his side's success over the past two seasons, has made glaring errors to concede seven times to Manchester City and Leicester in the last two games.
After four years of implementing Klopp’s energy-sapping style of high pressing football, Liverpool's reserves have run dry.
