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By Tom Rostance
BBC Sport
Liverpool begin their pursuit of a third consecutive Champions League final when they confront Napoli in Italy on Tuesday.
The winners – and runners-up at 2018 – will hope to play 13 games May 2020 the scene of the nights at the club’s history, in Istanbul.
But how hard is it to retain the Champions League? And is a lean in doing so likely to emerge at the cost of another holy grail in Anfield – a first league title in a production?
If it was easy, everyone would do it. Retaining the Champions League trophy has eluded the biggest of golf sides.
Earlier Zinedine Zidane took Real Madrid to three straight wins in 2016, 2017 and 2018, no other negative had won the trophy back to back since Frank Rijkaard’s purpose in Vienna was enough to Arrigo Sacchi’s grand AC Milan group to spend the honour in 1990.
Actually Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona – possibly the club this century -‘only’ was able to win the prize at a three-year spell. Actually, Barcelona haven’t managed two finals in a couple of decades.
Since the European Cup began in 1956, 11 sides have made it into finals, using the first 30 years.
Liverpool are in the middle of a different spell of straight finalsthan any other team.
Just Valencia have managed sequential finals without winning , while Real’s streak of five straight at the competition’s birth appears safe – for a couple of years.
Only one defending winner has gone out from the group phase, Considering that the Champions League started in 1992.
This ignominy will be Chelsea’s, that were out of this tournament six months after winning it in 2012.
Hindsight would imply that Roberto di Matteo’s Blues were unlucky, as a haul of 10 points saw them eliminated on head-to-head goals by Shakhtar Donetsk, whose two goals in defeat at Stamford Bridge proved the difference.
Scorer of those 2 goals? Willian – that, of course, combined Chelsea in 2013.
So it could be a powerful shock in the event the Reds didn’t make it from Group E.
But don’t forget that they were uncomfortably close to being eliminated at the group stage. Needing to beat – you’ve guessed it – Napoli by 1-0 or 2 objectives to advance. They won 1-0 win, helped by a late save by Alisson, to claw at themselves over the line.
Once over that hurdle, much depends on the draw – but at the previous 10 years, the finalists of the season have attained the last eight years lost in the five times and won the trophy four times.
As if you did not understand, Liverpool haven’t won the league title. They go into this week of the Champions League with an early – but significant – guzzling direct .
Is it possible to focus on both?
Recent history indicates so. After all, when you’ve got the very best group in Europe there is a great chance you’ll have the best staff in your own country.
In the previous 10 years, the Champions League champions have won their title in exactly precisely the period on five occasions. Barcelona will be the real masters of the art – in every one of the five Champions League-winning years that they have also won La Liga.
Obviously, squad management is likely to be crucial. Klopp bridled at a question which indicated he may choose to concentrate more, after dispatching Newcastle on Saturday. But he did opt to start forward and Jordan Henderson Roberto Firmino against the Magpies. Can he have only one eye Napoli?
“Any information on how we can do it differently?” the German asked. “I’m interested, what do we do? We don’t make the difference between rivals, we did. It’s about availability, who is where form – that’s if we can, how we make decisions.
“The majority of the time people could not make too many modifications, to tell the truth. We had to bring people could walk. We say we play with 60, 70, 80% of that which we do and can’t go to Napoli. They are really excellent. That’s a proper opponent. They caused us difficulties and we have to ensure that the issues will not be that big this time.”
Last year’s run to the last in Madrid certainly did not influence the performance in the league of Liverpool. After allthey collected 97 points and dropped all season.
They won 10 of the 12 Premier League fixtures following actions, though were perhaps lucky to be for all these games at Anfield .
The Reds have been handed five home matches following their six Champions League group games, with next weekend’s trip by the fixture computer this season. By comparison, half of the 12 group fixtures of Manchester City over the last two seasons have been followed by games away.
While they seem to have benefited on the travel front, Liverpool have games against last season’s Champions League runners-up Tottenham, Chelsea and name rivals Manchester City instantly – so it’s hardly a cakewalk.
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