Brendan Rodgers says his Liverpool team will be up against probably the best side in the world when they face Real Madrid on Tuesday night.
The Reds travel to the Santiago Bernabeu having won just once from their opening three Champions League games, including a 3-0 reverse to Carlo Ancelotti’s men at Anfield two weeks ago, but the Irishman claims he is looking forward to locking horns with the Spanish giants again.
“We are really looking forward to these big games and see them as a great opportunity,” he told a Press conference.
“We are still in the hunt in this group and we know they are probably the best team in the world at the moment, but we can challenge them.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is also probably the world’s best player, yet Madrid have many [top players] such as Isco, Benzema, Modric, Kroos and others.”
Inevitably, much of the pre-match talk has centred on the controversial Mario Balotelli and Rodgers is hoping the Italian finds his goalscoring touch sooner rather than later.
“Mario is working very hard. At this moment in time he is doing his best. He hasn’t got the goals that he, and we, would have liked.
“But he just needs to remain focused on giving his best for this football club every time he’s on the field. That’s all we can ask,” he added.