Liverpool fans set off fireworks outside Real Madrid’s Albert Dock hotel at 2am, with mischievous supporters attempting to wake up opposition ahead of Champions League last-16 first-leg at Anfield
- Liverpool play Real Madrid in first leg of Champions League clash on Tuesday
- Some fans set off fireworks outside the Spanish team’s hotel at 2:00am
- Supporters did the same thing before Barcelona clash at Anfield in 2019
Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid might be waking up with weary heads on Tuesday morning, after Liverpool fans set off fireworks outside their hotel on Merseyside at 2am.
The Spanish giants arrived on Monday and set up residence at Innside Liverpool Hotel but had their sleep disturbed in the early hours.
A video posted online shows fireworks going off in close proximity to the accommodation in a mischievous attempt to wake up the Real players on the eve of the big game.
The fireworks appeared to be lit right outside the entrance of the building and lasted more than 30 seconds.
It is not uncommon for fans to pull this trick, particularly before important matches and Liverpool fans did the same thing back in 2019 before their incredible 4-0 win against Barcelona in 2019 at Anfield.
Fireworks were set off in Liverpool at 2:00am outside Real Madrid’s team hotel on Tuesday
Eduardo Camavinga (left), Luka Modric (centre) and Eden Hazard (right) trained at Anfield on Monday evening before going back to their residence at the Innside Liverpool Hotel
It is unlikely that the vastly experienced Real side will be affected by the prank but they arrive for the first leg in the midst of a patchy season.
They trail Barcelona in LaLiga by eight points and, like Liverpool, have struggled since both sides met in last year’s Champions League final – a game Real won 1-0.
The game was so painful for Jurgen Klopp that he has only just sat down to re-watch it again, revealing on Monday: ‘It was proper torture because we played a good game and could have won – and that’s the decisive word because we could but didn’t because they scored and we didn’t. That’s the decisive reason.
‘We saw how experienced Madrid is and how little they are fussed by the fact when the other team has chances.
‘They don’t lose confidence in one second, they know ‘our chance will come’ and they defend with legs. That’s what you can learn from them, definitely.
‘So somebody told me – and I don’t even know if it was true or not – that Carlo said after the final Liverpool knew exactly what they would face,’ said Klopp. ‘I watched the game back, knowing exactly what we will do and we had to win this game.
‘We didn’t and the one reason was we didn’t score and we conceded but apart from that we should have won the game.
‘But Carlo is the most relaxed manager I met in my life, one of the best people you could meet; a fantastic humble person, super-smart and nice.’
Perhaps the famously amicable Italian’s sunny outlook will be tested after the 2am firework display outside his window.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are preparing for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash
Liverpool are sweating on the fitness of Darwin Nunez, who came off injured in the 2-0 win over Newcastle.
But Klopp hinted that the Uruguayan could play, adding: ‘There’s a chance. From all the possible scenarios, apart from being absolutely nothing – that’s not the case – we have to see how he can deal with the pain.
‘When we know that, we have to make a decision.’
Nunez is emerging as a force for the Reds despite occasionally wayward finishing and smashed the opener at the weekend with some authority. Real will be hoping he plays no part on Tuesday evening.
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