Liverpool face tough trial against Leipzig
elite competition tonight in Budapest as the game was moved to Hungary from Leipzig due to travel
restrictions between Germany and Britain because of Covid-19.
Julian Nagelsmann and compatriot Jurgen Klopp will be on opposing benches again when Leipzig and Liverpool meet in the UEFA Champions League round of 16. Klopp had left Dortmund for Liverpool before Nagelsmann made his name in the Bundesliga with Hoffenheim. Klopp's Reds beat Nagelsmann's Hoffenheim 6-3 on aggregate in the 2017-18 play-offs, but they can expect a closer encounter this time.
Liverpool might be slight favourites against RB Leipzig in Budapest but the Germans are boosted by a four-match winning run, Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann said yesterday.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The German side, last year's Champions League semi-finalists, have only conceded one goal in their last three league matches and one German Cup game and are second in the Bundesliga with the best defensive record. "We are in a good flow. We have won the last four matches while Liverpool have not won five out of their last seven," Nagelsmann said. Liverpool,
Champions League winners two seasons ago and last year's Premier League champions, are far from their best, having just lost three league games in a row for the first time since 2014. Liverpool sit fourth in the Premier League, 13 points behind leaders Manchester City, after their loss to Leicester City. "A lot depends on the form of the day," Nagelsmann said. "We know that Liverpool still are a very good team with world-class players. It is always difficult to defend against them."