Liverpool could pull off a huge upset by unleashing Roberto Firmino against Real Madrid.

Liverpool face a mammoth task in overcoming Real Madrid in the Champions League, having fallen to a chastening 5-2 defeat at Anfield in the first leg.

Jurgen Klopp’s Reds have certainly fallen from prominence this season, currently fifth in the English top-flight and having fallen in the early phases of both the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup, with continental football the final realistic chance of silverware this season.

And even that may be too tall an order; Liverpool stormed into a 2-0 lead in the early stages of the first match against Los Blancos, but an inexplicable collapse left the away side putting five past the silenced Anfield faithful.

However, if Klopp’s past endeavours against Spanish opposition in the Champions League are anything to go by, a sliver of hope may yet be intact.

Liverpool fell to a 3-0 defeat against Barcelona in the 2018/19 edition of the prestigious tournament, before incredibly sinking La Blaugrana with a four-goal romp in the reverse fixture on Merseyside.

However, the circumstances are starkly polarising to the former verve that Liverpool harnessed to forge a route towards Champions League glory, but one phenom that must be utilised to achieve the achievable is stalwart Roberto Firmino.

Since signing for Liverpool for 29m from Hoffenheim in 2015, the Brazilian Firmino has scored 108 goals and provided 79 assists 355 appearances, integral in winning the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup, among other major honours.

And this season, despite Liverpool’s struggles, the 31-year-old has plundered ten goals and five assists from just 16 appearances, providing a cutting edge to Liverpool’s attack amid the lack of fluidity.

Can Roberto’s influence lead Liverpool to victory at Madrid today? Soon we will know.