Liverpool have a 1-0 defecit to overturn against Galatasaray in order to progress in the Champions League
Xabi Alonso and Florian Wirtz could reunite(Image: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Liverpool will put their Premier League woes to the side as they aim to get past Galatasaray to progress in the Champions League. The Reds will need to rely on Arne Slot’s tactical plans to get through the round-of-16 clash – but Paul Scholes believes one star is to blame for their recent struggles on the pitch.
The Turkish giants hold a slim 1-0 lead over Liverpool from the first leg, with Mario Lemina giving his side hope of reaching the quarter-finals. However, Slot will be aiming to turn it around, and veteran defender Andy Robertson believes his team-mates can complete the comeback.
The Scot said: “They’ve beaten us twice this season so we know they are a good team. It’s not about individuals, they are a good team overall and we are going to have to compete with them.
“The advantage for them in the first leg was they had the home support behind us. We were below par in both games and we can’t be below par tomorrow.
“We have to be better than the two games we have played. We have to show we are a difficult team to play against.” Here, Mirror Football has the latest headlines coming out of Anfield.
READ MORE: Jamie Carragher names Liverpool’s biggest problem and makes worrying Arne Slot verdictREAD MORE: Paul Scholes points finger at one Liverpool star as he slams Arne Slot’s ‘pretty’ approach
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Xabi Alonso claim
Xabi Alonso is widely considered to be the top target for Liverpool should they get rid of Slot at the helm. The Athletic claim Alonso would “probably take the job” if offered in the summer and he’s definitely a contender for the position.
Slot has struggled in his sophomore season at Anfield after winning the Premier League in his first year. Liverpool sit fifth in the Premier League table, with just the FA Cup and Champions League left as viable targets for silverware this year.
Xabi Alonso has been tipped for the Reds job(Image: Fadel SENNA / AFP via Getty Images)
Losses to Manchester United, Wolves, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest have damaged their defence of the league title, and fans have begun to call for Slot to be sacked. Alonso has been tipped to take over from the Dutchman if he does get the boot.
Scholes points finger of blame
Paul Scholes has blamed Florian Wirtz for Liverpool’s transition into a possession-based team. The ex-United star believes that Anfield has become an easier place to visit for teams due to this tactical switch.
Following a last-minute draw with Tottenham at the weekend, Scholes criticised the lack of press and intensity in the team and pointed to Wirtz as an example. Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, he said: “Anfield was always the toughest place to go.
Florian Wirtz has been blamed for Liverpool’s shortcomings(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
“Jamie Carragher mentioned it loads of times, you had the fans on top of you and the players on top of you. They’ve lost that determination to stop the other team. It’s just not there any more. They’ve become almost a possession-based team.
“Florian Wirtz is a brilliant, brilliant footballer, but I think he’s made them more into a possession team. I think under Klopp and probably under past managers as well at Liverpool, the last thing they’re thinking about at home is playing football.
“They’re just thinking about kicking the s*** out of you and steamrolling you and stopping you from playing. Now this last year and a half it’s become probably one of the easiest places to play and you’d never say that about Anfield.”
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Liverpool have reached the UEFA Champions League round of 16 where they face Galatasaray on March 18. Fans can watch the game on the TNT Sports Prime Video channel.