Liverpool extended their perfect Champions League run on Tuesday evening, securing a narrow 1-0 win over Girona. Mo Salah’s second-half penalty sealed all three points, marking six consecutive victories for the Merseyside giants. Rio Ferdinand has now shared his thoughts on whether Liverpool should be seen as favourites to lift the Champions League trophy this season.
According to Sky Sports, Opta’s calculations ahead of today’s Champions League fixtures place Arne Slot’s Liverpool as the frontrunners to lift the trophy in Munich on 31 May, with a 20.3% chance of triumph at the Allianz Arena. Speaking on TNT Sports (via BBC Sport), Rio Ferdinand addressed whether he believes Liverpool now stand as favourites for Champions League glory this season.
The player turned pundit believes it is too soon to judge
Ferdinand talks up Liverpool’s Champions League chances speaking on TnT sports
“Form-wise right now, yes, Liverpool have to be favourites but nothing is handed out at this stage. Form-wise, come March and April time it could be very different to now. You have to be a bit patient.”
Rio Ferdinand rightly highlighted that a flawless record in the group stage doesn’t guarantee knockout success — a reality Liverpool know all too well.
In 2005 and 2019, the Reds narrowly advanced from their group before going on to win the Champions League. Conversely, topping the group in 2019/20 and 2022/23 ultimately meant little, as they were eliminated by both the Madrid-based sides in the round of 16.
That said, Liverpool currently stand as the best-placed team to go the distance this season. With a top-eight finish virtually secured following their latest result, the final group standings could play a pivotal role in shaping the path through the knockout stages.
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Liverpool’s position in the league stage puts them in prime position for a favourable knockout path, with a higher finish in theory offering a smoother route. While theory is key, finishing top should access a more manageable run through the latter stages.
With that in mind, Rio Ferdinand’s belief in Liverpool’s chances of lifting the trophy holds weight.