Nat Phillips is eager to point out that while Liverpool may have endured a testing 2020-21 campaign, on a European stage they remain “on the same level” as “iconic club” and upcoming Champions League opponents Real Madrid.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are readying themselves for a heavyweight showdown with the Blancos in a European quarter-final, with the first leg of that contest set to take place at Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday.
Both sides could find themselves knocked from title-winning perches domestically this season, but continental glory remains up for grabs as two teams with 19 successes between them prepare to lock horns and finish their respective campaigns with a flourish.