Trent Alexander-Arnold's Real Madrid mind games amid "small club" claim

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Trent Alexander-Arnold
Trent Alexander-Arnold's Real Madrid mind games amid "small club" claim

Liverpool are gearing up for their Champions League round-of-16 second-leg away at Real Madrid knowing they need another miracle in Europe.

The Reds have a long, illustrious history in the competition and lifted the trophy six times. To try and make it seven this term, Jurgen Klopp's men need to overturn a three-goal margin against Los Blancos at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Carlo Ancelotti's side ran out 5-2 winners at Anfield in the first-leg, leabing Liverpool with a mountain to climb out in Madrid. While the odds are firmly stacked against them, few can bet against the Reds with their history of remarkable comeback's on the European stage.

Mirror Football has analysed some of the main headlines surrounding Liverpool before their Champions League fate is decided.

Trent Alexander-Arnold's Real Madrid mind games amid "small club" claim tdiqtihziqzqinvTrent Alexander Arnold has insisted Liverpool are not feeling the pressure before their clash against Real Madrid (Getty Images)

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Trent's mind-games

Trent Alexander-Arnold has claimed that Liverpool will not "feel any pressure" as they aim to turn the tie around out in Madrid.

The Reds have managed to overcome a similar deficit before, when they found themselves three goals down to Barcelona in 2019 only to win 4-0 at Anfield and progress.

"We're going to have to go and do something special in Spain, to be honest," Alexander-Arnold told the Liverpool ECHO. "But, you know, it's one of them where it's similar to the Barcelona game where we kind of go over there with nothing to lose.

"They are the one with a three-goal lead and you know if we come out of there and we don't win then OK, we were three goals down, it is what it is. So we don't feel any pressure."

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Trent Alexander-Arnold's Real Madrid mind games amid "small club" claimRio Ferdinand accused Liverpool of showing a 'small club mentality' last weekend (YouTube/Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE)

Ferdinand's 'small club' claim

Rio Ferdinand was quick to poke fun at Liverpool for their defeat away at Bournemouth on Saturday lunchtime, with the Reds falling to a 1-0 defeat.

The shock result came less than a week after Liverpool demolished Manchester United 7-0 at Anfield.

Ferdinand suggested the way the Reds celebrated that victory before being toppled by the Cherries was the kind of thing you'd see from a lesser club than Liverpool.

"Liverpool fans talk to me please now. My mates on the Whatsapp groups, all Liverpool fans. Up the Cherries, liberties, seriously. That is a small club mentality isn't it, that screams small club," he told Vibe with Five.

"Screaming and celebrating when they beat Man United the way they did and they battered us, hands up. The way Souness and Carragher were celebrating, they way they were trying to antagonise the guys."

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Read Ferdinand's comments in full as well as Jamie Carragher's response

Trent Alexander-Arnold's Real Madrid mind games amid "small club" claimJordan Henderson is expected to miss the game against Real Madrid will illness (James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)

Liverpool without their skipper

Liverpool will have to contend with some notable absentees for the clash against the Spanish giants.

Club captain Jordan Henderson will miss the trip to Madrid through illness in what is a blow to Klopp's midfield, which has undeniably been the Reds' problem area this term.

Youngster Stefan Bajcetic has also been ruled out by his manager after sustaining what he termed a "stress response" to an adductor muscle issue.

Meanwhile Luis Diaz is still not yet far along enough in his recovery from the serious knee injury he sustained in October of last-year to feature.

Josh O'Brien

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