Former Liverpool winger and now BT Sport commentator Steve McManaman reacted positively to the Reds’ draw for the Champions League round of 16.
The Premier League champions will take on RB Leipzig in February and March and the long-serving Liverpool winger told BT Sport that he expects his former club to qualify despite being dealt a tricky hand.
In quotes shared by TBR Football, the 48-year-old said:
They’ll all get through (British sides), Liverpool should beat Leipzig. We saw them [Leipzig] from the Manchester United games, it is a difficult tie but Liverpool should qualify.
We know what Leipzig can do, Angelino plays well. Whether they will be able to hold onto their players remains to be seen, but Liverpool shouldn’t be unduly worried.
Leipzig overcame Liverpool’s fierce rivals Manchester United on the final night of the group stages to qualify for the last 16 for a second season running.
Jurgen Klopp‘s side are aiming to improve on last year’s disappointing European campaign which saw them eliminated at this stage by Atletico Madrid – a revenge mission which has been avoided for now.
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McManaman may be bolder than most of a Liverpool persuasion in his brash prediction for what seems a difficult tie.
The Bundesliga club were semi-finalists during last season’s competition and are flying high in their domestic league, level on points with Champions League holders Bayern Munich.
Despite only being in existence for 11 years, Leipzig have a squad bursting with talent and could yet struggle to hold on to a number of key players even before the two sides meet in the spring.
Central defender Dayot Upamecano has been widely tipped to leave the club, with Liverpool touted as a potential destination as Klopp looks to solve his current defensive crisis in January.
Following this draw, Klopp could be more inclined to sign the Frenchman, to strip a future opponent of a key asset.
