Toni Kroos has withdrawn from Germany’s squad due to a “persistent abductor” issue and is now a doubt to face Liverpool in the quarter-final of the Champions League.
A tweet from the German national team’s official Twitter account broke the news that the 31-year-old is battling with injury.
Liverpool face Los Blancos on the 6th of April at the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium – home of the Real Madrid Castilla and it’s being billed as a chance for the Reds to get revenge for their heartbreaking Champions League final defeat in Kyiv in 2018.
KIEV, UKRAINE – MAY 26: Loris Karius of Liverpool looks dejected following his sides defeat in the UEFA Champions League Final between Real Madrid and Liverpool at NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium on May 26, 2018 in Kiev, Ukraine. PHOTO BY LAURENCE GRIFFITHS/GETTY IMAGES.
The Liverpool Echo reports that Kroos will return to Madrid to undergo treatment as Real Madrid look to ensure the midfielder, who has made 35 appearances this season, is fit to face the Reds.
Liverpool’s chance for revenge over Real Madrid
Supporters have had very little to take pride in this season, with injury after injury ruining any chance of retaining the Premier League title.
However, with Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Jordan Henderson the only major absentees for Klopp, there’s a slim chance for the German and his players to use the Champions League as a way to salvage this season.
The final will take place in Istanbul and while fans are wary not to jinx anything, we all know what happened the last time the tricky Reds were battling for top four with a European final on the cards.
If anything can make this season a memorable one, it’s winning the Champions League to seal qualification for next season’s tournament.
NYON, SWITZERLAND – MARCH 19: A detailed view of the UEFA Champions League trophy during the UEFA Champions League 2020/21 Quarter-finals and Semi-finals draw at the UEFA headquarters, The House of European Football on March 19, 2021 in Nyon, Switzerland. PHOTO BY VALENTIN FLAURAUD – UEFA.
Mohamed Salah has some unfinished business with Sergio Ramos after the Spaniard’s cynical challenge on the Egyptian saw him leave the pitch injured in 2018.
Liverpool’s route to the Champions League final
If the Reds can overcome Real Madrid and make it to the final in Istanbul, they will then face either Porto or Chelsea.
Both sides pose different threats to the Merseysiders and as we saw when the Blues visited Anfield at the start of the month, Thomas Tuchel has already improved the London side and they have a genuine chance of going all the way this season.
Should Klopp and co. go all the way themselves, they will face one of PSG, Bayern Munich, Manchester City or Borussia Dortmund.
All four sides would be worthy opponents and if I had to choose one side to face, it would have to be City because it would be poetic to deny them the European title that has proved so elusive.
