Chaos with Nunez and Gakpo as Firmino joins attack for Liverpool team against Real Madrid

After a stellar start in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie at Anfield, things quickly unravelled and Jurgen Klopp's men were left humiliated.

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With 15 minutes on the clock it looked like the Reds were about to exact an incredible dose of revenge on a team that's had their number to a painful degree in recent years.

Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah had Liverpool 2-0 up and cruising, but an error from Alisson Becker saw a clearance bounce off of Brazil teammate Vinicius Jr and into the net to make it 2-2 after Vinicius Jr reduced the deficit with a brilliant curling effort.

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Three unanswered goals were then pummelled in as Anfield was left in shock, and Liverpool's season all but over.

That's been the case many times in the past, though, particularly in Europe, with Liverpool completing some of the most incredible comebacks football has ever witnessed.

Winning the 2005 Champions League final despite being 3-0 down against AC Milan, the Reds continued their incredible history in the competition to take a fifth crown.

Their sixth was just as astonishing, overcoming a 3-0 deficit against Barcelona to win 4-0 in the 2019 semi-final second leg, clinching a final berth against Tottenham, and another win.

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Numerous other examples prove that Liverpool are never finished in Europe, even though this return leg, away to a team who's made a habit of beating them, clearly looks like a step too far.

After the 5-2 loss, Liverpool have drawn 0-0 to Crystal Palace, been beaten 1-0 by Bournemouth, showing how stark their problems are.

However, among those stumbles, there was a 7-0 dismantling of Manchester United, which could be incredibly helpful.

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Without decent options in midfield and a struggling defence, Liverpool are no longer able to be the controlling pressing machine that Klopp loves, with Bournemouth brutally exposing that last time out.

But when they stop focusing on control and go for the jugular, that's when the 2022/23 vintage shine.

Against Real Madrid that will be exactly what's needed. Should they find themselves a goal or two up again, there will be no let-up in effort to slow things down - it can't work due to the scoreline, and it won't work as recent performances have shown.

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That means Liverpool have to go all-out attack, and give Madrid the Man United treatment.

Despite their clear deficiencies in midfield, Liverpool's landmark signings of the past two transfer windows, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez, are beginning to find their feet.

Both scoring twice against United, the duo have shown they can create chaos in a game that will clearly need it, and could be joined by an extra artillery.

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Mohamed Salah is a guaranteed starter and will hope to extend his club-record scoring run in Europe, while Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino are also both available.

Jota has been injured and unable to find the net, while Firmino, who is set to depart in the summer, could come out swinging in his last hurrah in Europe for the Reds.

The Brazilian was Liverpool's form player before the World Cup, and as an expert in pressing, he could offer an ideal withdrawn forward role to keep the ball in Madrid's half.

That will be key with Los Blancos yet to concede a counter-attacking goal in LaLiga or the Champions League this season, and look far more vulnerable from open play as a worrying three-game winless run after the first leg proved.

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In a league draw against ten-man Atletico Madrid and cup defeat against Barcelona, the loss of David Alaba proved costly, with Madrid's defence out of sorts.

Looking particularly vulnerable and easy to get at on the flanks, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson will need to be at their very best.

With Jordan Henderson out sick and Stefan Bajcetic injured, platforming that could be Fabinho and Naby Keita, allowing Liverpool's front four to turn into a front six as they desperately seek chaos in the Madrid box.

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