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I don’t think Liverpool’s Champions League semi-final win over Roma ever really got edgy. Ultimately, the scoreline over the two games was closer than it should have been.

They scored two goals late on, and it was too late to make it really exciting and nail-biting.

What we produced in Rome will not be enough in Kiev, but what we produced in the two games with Manchester City and against Roma in the first leg will more than give us an opportunity to win the Champions League.

I think we’re going to be more at those levels. We have a couple of weeks to prepare, concluding with Brighton, and one of Klopp’s strengths is getting teams ready.

Getting teams ready doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll play well, but it means you’re ready. Come the 26th May, Klopp’s Liverpool will be ready and they’ll give absolutely everything they’ve got.

(Image: Steven Paston/PA Wire)

Jurgen’s massive impact on the club cannot be underestimated, either.

He’s had plenty of patience and gave every player an opportunity. He sorted solutions to the problems we had with the squad he had available and in some cases he’s been proved right.

I think the players love playing for someone like him. When he says things, he delivers on them. He gives people opportunities and the players feel like they can trust him massively. Klopp gets a massive 10/10 for me for the job he’s done at Liverpool.

Gini the genius

One player who has impressed me since coming back into the fold to replace Alex Oxlade Chamberlain has been Gini Wijnaldum.

I’ve always thought he’s an excellent footballer. He’s intelligent, he moves the ball on at the right times, and although he’s not extravagant in any way shape or form, Klopp likes him because he can play to order.

You tell him exactly what to do, and because he’s intelligent he’ll do that. That’s very important. When you spend time ensuring your tactics are right for these big games, you need players who will deliver exactly what you want on the pitch.

(Image: Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Luck of the Scouse

Sometimes you look at the decisions that aren’t made in games and sometimes you can understand why the officials don’t see it.

It’s very difficult to see the Trent incident [when the defender appeared to handle the ball against Roma last night] at the speed it happens. If he sees it, he gives it. But the two penalties given against Liverpool in both legs of the semi-final - Klavan and Milner at Anfield - should never have been awarded. It’s always likely to even itself out somewhere and it did last night.

I have sympathy for the officials, though. It’s a tough job.

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How to defeat Madrid - and facing Cristiano Ronaldo

Liverpool will hurt Real Madrid in the midfield.

I watched their semi-final aggregate win over Bayern Munich on Tuesday evening, when they switched to a 4-4-2 formation, and I thought that Kroos and Modric were out of the game.

They’re excellent footballers, but they couldn’t get into it.

(Image: Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

They don’t do enough work without the ball, and when they were on it they were harassed. I think you can stop that part of Real Madrid’s game, and if you do, the rest will struggle to function.

It’s all very well and good saying they’ve got Ronaldo, but I just think the style of Real Madrid’s play can be nullified.

One thing we’ve got more than Real Madrid is the energy and the way we harass teams. I don’t care who you are or how good you are, nobody likes playing under that pressure.

Real Madrid are the exact same. They won’t be looking forward to that.

If they go 4-4-2 in Kiev, Liverpool will outnumber them and have more energy about them. That’s where I’m looking to get at Zidane's side.

If you can take it to their midfield, then they’re there for the taking because their attacking players won’t be able to get on the ball and their back four - who looked unsure on Tuesday night - won’t be protected.

But it’s impossible not to focus on Cristiano Ronaldo, isn’t it?

(Image: Matthias Hangst/Bongarts/Getty Images)

You look at what he’s achieved against any era and it’s hard not to talk about him as one of the world’s best. Of course you have to be impressed, and managing him will be one of Liverpool’s biggest tasks.

It’s the Champions League final. It doesn’t get any bigger than this. There are big players in the other team and there are things you have to overcome mentally.

As well as being ready, Liverpool need to be mentally ready to play the game. Not to play Real Madrid, but to play the game.