Jurgen Klopp claims he is relishing facing Real Madrid and Sergio Ramos in the Champions League again.
Liverpool have drawn Real in the quarter-finals in a repeat of the infamous 2018 final when Ramos forced Mohamed Salah off with a shoulder injury before the Spanish giants won 3-1.
Gareth Bale scored a stunning goal in that final and Klopp says it will be the first time he has faced them without Cristiano Ronaldo.
“It’s just under three years ago that we faced them and it was a tough night for us, so to get the chance to play them again is cool,” said the Reds boss.
“I think it’s the first time I faced them when Cristiano is not there; probably maybe the first time since Bale is not there.
“But obviously Ramos is still there, Varane still there, Kroos still there, Modric still there, Casemiro still there, Carvajal still there, Benzema still there.
“And a few young prospects, proper players on top of that. I’m really looking forward to it.
“It’s exciting, exciting. It’s obviously a tough draw, but I’m fine with it because if you look at all the other teams you think, ‘Oh my God!’ because they’re all strong and all have quality.”
A third all-English final is a possibility and Liverpool and Chelsea could meet in the semis before potentially facing Manchester City in the final.
“I think we are all the same,” said Klopp. “Bayern doesn’t want to play Dortmund, for example, because they are from the same country and for us, it was City and Chelsea.
“If we can avoid as long as possible then you do it, but all the rest, it was clear we would face a tough opponent.
“I know it’s a different round and whatever and we don’t know where we will play and stuff like this, but that’s all OK. If it will be Budapest, that’s fine. The home game maybe hopefully at Anfield, that would be great as well.”
