Liverpool out to avoid worst-ever European aggregate defeat

Liverpool are out to avoid their worst-ever aggregate defeat in Europe when they face Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Jurgen Klopp's side are 5-2 down from the first leg at Anfield three weeks ago, and a defeat of any scoreline here will either match or set a new unwanted record.

Being three goals down currently, Liverpool lost by four-goal margins on aggregate to Ajax in 1966 and Spartak Moscow in 1992.

However, given Liverpool's history in the Champions League, winning the tie altogether cannot be ruled out.

The Reds are just one of four teams to ever win a tie in the competition after losing the first leg by a three-goal margin or more, doing so against Real's bitter rivals Barcelona in 2019.

They also came back from a 3-0 deficit at half time of the final against AC Milan in 2005, when Milan were managed by current Real boss Carlo Ancelotti.

Real Madrid have won 26 of the 27 ties in the competition where they have won away from home in the first leg, but the one time they failed saw them lose by a scoreline which would eradicate their lead here, a 4-1 home defeat to Ajax in 2019.

The Spanish giants do have a fantastic recent record against Liverpool though, having won six and drawn one of their last seven meetings.

The sight of Karim Benzema may also provide misery for Klopp's defence, as no player has scored more goals against Liverpool in the entire history of the competition, with the Frenchman netting six times against the Merseysiders.