Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has dropped his verdict ahead of Arsenal taking on Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, with a place in the final in Budapest on the line
19:38, 29 Apr 2026Updated 19:44, 29 Apr 2026
Steven Gerrard during TNT Sports' coverage of Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal.
Steven Gerrard during TNT Sports' coverage of Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal.(Image: TNT Sports)
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has piled the pressure on Arsenal ahead of its Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid, with Mikel Arteta's side yet to go all the way in the competition.
Arsenal is leading Manchester City in the Premier League title race, but it is now only three points ahead of Pep Guardiola's men having played a game more. In Europe, it is also trying to balance a Champions League run that has it on the easier side of the knockout bracket.
"These players of Arsenal have been playing in big games now," Gerrard said on TNT Sports. "They have been together for a good period of time and Mikel has done a fantastic job.
READ MORE: Mohamed Salah injury update issued as Liverpool confirms 'minor' problemREAD MORE: Jamie Carragher offers Man Utd vs Liverpool score prediction - 'Not convinced by them'
"I know there is a lot of anxiety among the Arsenal fans but if you draw Atletico Madrid in the semi-final of the Champions League in the condition they're in...
"With all due respect, they have got fantastic players and a good manager who can raise them and get them ready for an occasion like this, but I don’t think Arsenal will get a better opportunity to reach a Champions League final in the next 10 years."
In the other semi-final, PSG is leading Bayern Munich 5-4 after the first leg. That was one of the best games there has ever been at the Parc des Princes.
In this composite image a comparison has been made between Diego Simeone, Head Coach of Atletico de Madrid (L) and Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal. Atletico Madrid and Arsenal meet over two legs in the UEFA Champions League Semi Finals
Arsenal faces off with Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals(Image: (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images))
"I have never seen a match with this kind of intensity," PSG boss Luis Enrique said. "This is not the time to point out flaws; we just need to congratulate everyone.
"We deserved to win, we deserved to draw and we deserved to lose today. It was a fantastic match. It has been, without a doubt, the best match I have ever been involved in as a coach.
"I'm so tired, and I didn't run a single kilometer. So I don't know how the players are feeling.
"I just asked my staff, 'How many goals do you think we will need to win this match?' They said, 'Minimum three.' Bayern Munich in their stadium are even stronger, but we will try and show the same mentality."
Get LFC's 2025/26 season home and away kits
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Content Image
From $100
LFC.com
See the deal
Liverpool's home and away strips for the 2025/26 season are the first in their new partnership with adidas.
Fans can order jerseys in the US at Fanatics.com or via the LFC Online Store in both the US and across the world.
The former Liverpool man Luis Diaz was exceptional in the game, even if he came out on the losing side.
Inside the first quarter of the first leg in the tie, Diaz enticed Willian Pacho into making a hasty tackle inside the penalty area. When he went down, the referee was well-positioned to point to the spot, and the Colombian later scored from open play too.
"Lucho brings a lot to the team," Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany said after he starred in the previous round against Real Madrid and his former Liverpool teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Article continues below
"He can dribble, create chances, and finish. But what makes him special is his mentality; he's not afraid of chaos and becomes a threat in those situations."