Liverpool take on Girona in a Champions League clash with more on the line than some might think
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Arne Slot leaves after giving a press conference on the eve of the UEFA Champions League football match between Girona and Liverpool, at the Montilivi stadium in Girona on December 9, 2024.
(Image: Josep LAGO / AFP)
Liverpool will get a glimpse into the future this evening. The present, though, is the only concern for Arne Slot right now.
Having seen off Manchester City already this month, the assignment for the Reds will now be to overcome a sister club of the struggling Premier League champions in Spanish side Girona at their intimate 14,624-capacity Estadi Montilivi.
With Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group mapping out a long-term vision of multi-club ownership, the fixture will shine a light on the debate that continues over the virtues of such an approach. It is an area bathed in shades of grey.
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More black and white, though, is the task facing Liverpool, who know victory will ensure direct qualification for the Champions League knockout stages.
Five wins from five - the most recent the rousing Anfield dismantling of holders Real Madrid a fortnight ago - means the Reds are already assured a place in the play-off stages in February.
Slot, however, will be keen for his team to resolve their European situation as quickly as possible given the weekend postponement of the Goodison derby has served to further highlight Liverpool’s increasingly congested fixture list.
With two games more Champions League games to come in January, Liverpool would ideally prefer the opportunity to rest and rotate players at home to Lille and at PSV Eindhoven in the knowledge their knockout stages won’t begin until March.
For that to be assured early, victory at the Estadi Montilivi is an imperative. And with the unexpected breather at the weekend and the next Premier League game at home to Fulham not until Saturday afternoon, there is scope for Slot to go strong with his starting line-up, albeit with hand forced by seven absentees.
There will be a financial incentive for Liverpool, too, with each win in the Champions League worth £1.75million while a draw would bolster the Anfield coffers by around £600,000. Historically, such funds have been pumped straight back into squad strengthening.
Points rather than points, however, will be driving Liverpool’s efforts this evening. And in opposition will be a number of recognisable names in the Girona squad, such as former Premier League players Donny van de Beek, Oriel Romeu, Paulo Gazzaniga, Bryan Gil, Daley Blind and Arnaut Danjuma.
Girona, under coach Michel, stand ninth in La Liga having finished third last season behind Real Madrid and Barcelona to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history.
It has, though, been a steep learning curve this term for the Spanish side, who have won only one of their five first-round games and stand 30th in the 36-team league. Nevertheless, Slot is expecting a tough evening for his Liverpool players.
"I think it is really special what they have done there, particularly last season," says the Reds boss. "They were close to becoming the Leicester city of Spain, competing for the league title with this budget, and it means what good a manager Michel is.
"Even this season they do better than the results may suggest, they were unlucky against PSG and a bit unlucky against Feyenoord, they were in every game apart from the PSV one that is why we have to be on top of our game."
Slot adds: "I think the game model is what stands out, their idea about football. Last season I watched quite a lot, I found it interesting what he did with the left full-back, playing so inverted. You didn’t see that so often, now you see some other teams doing that.
"They have a very good idea about football, always want to bring the ball out. Since I am a Dutchman, I like very much Daley Blind. If you saw him playing here last season it was Daley Blind style, so comfortable on the ball, playing balls through the lines."