Atletico v Liverpool: Simeone's side have 'no chance' says expert
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has attempted to ease the pressure on his Liverpool players, by claiming Paris Saint-Germain are the favourites to win the Champions League. The Reds continue their defence of the trophy tonight when they travel to the Spanish capital to take on Atletico Madrid.
It’s a stadium that evokes great memories for the Reds, just over eight months on from their 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur which saw them crowned champions of Europe after falling short in the Premier League by one point.
Liverpool look set to go one better than that this season and are just five wins shy of winning their first ever Premier League title.
It’s a position that could play into their hands in the Champions League too, allowing Klopp to rest his players for Europe should they get past Atletico.
Yet despite their domestic dominance, Klopp is refusing to accept that Liverpool are favourites to win the Champions League.
Jurgen Klopp has claimed Liverpool are not favourites for the Champions League (Image: GETTY)
The German issued an apology to Maurizio Sarri in his post-Atletico press conference, after the Italian took offence to his comments assessing Juventus’ season.
Klopp said just over two weeks ago: "Juventus were my favourites before the season started but I obviously don’t watch Italian football enough because I cannot work out why they are not 10 points ahead at the top of Serie A.
“They have the biggest squad I have ever seen in my life; quality players too, it’s crazy.”
Klopp was keen to clear things up after upsetting the Juventus manager, saying yesterday: “No, I’m sorry. I didn’t want to put Maurizio under pressure really.
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“I didn’t want to. I don’t play these kind of mind games to put pressure on Juve.”
While Klopp was adamant he does not play mind games, he couldn’t help but shift the label of favourites away from Liverpool once again with a cheeky joke.
“I didn’t want to put any pressure on Maurizio. I absolutely respect him,” he reiterated.
“I was happy when I heard his response that I was very funny. I say things that nobody should take really seriously.
“But the biggest favourite in the competition is PSG – now they have the pressure! I don’t think what I say will put pressure on any team to be honest.”
Liverpool won the Champions League at the Wanda Metropolitano last June (Image: GETTY)
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp apologised to Maurizio Sarri for claiming Juve are favourites (Image: GETTY)
Liverpool defender Joe Gomez has claimed that his team-mates see themselves as underdogs heading into their clash with Atletico.
"It's just about establishing yourself," the England international said.
“You aren't proven winners until you show you can do it again and again. We went [to Madrid] last season and beat Spurs in one game. Now it is about maintaining that reputation in the Champions League.
"People might say, 'Oh yeah, they're performing well', but as a team we have still got an underdog mentality.
"We've won the Champions League, but everyone is eager to win it again. The focus within the camp is just one game at a time. It comes right from the gaffer through the spine of the team — the skipper [Jordan Henderson] and Milly [James Milner]."