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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Connor Dunn

Neymar's Liverpool prediction comes back to haunt him as Reds prepare for Champions League defence

Liverpool will return to Melwood this week to prepare for a busy month ahead.

The Reds face some crucial Premier League fixtures, as well as the start of the Carabao Cup, and Jurgen Klopp's European champions also begin the defence of their Champions League crown.

It's a far cry from last season when the Reds were overlooked by Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar ahead of their group game at Anfield.

Indeed, it says a lot about how far Klopp's side have come that Neymar didn't even think Liverpool would finish in the top four of the Premier League.

The Brazilian attacker made the ridiculous call ahead of his side's trip to Anfield in the Champions League that saw Roberto Firmino devastate the French champions with a 91st minute winner in a breathless 3-2 victory for the Reds.

Before the opening Group C game of the European Cup competition 2018/19 Neymar was asked who he thought would win the Premier League, at a time when Liverpool were top of the table having not lost a match.

“Who will win it? Woah that's difficult,” Neymar said. “It's very hard, very difficult, but Manchester City will win it.

“Second will be United, third is Chelsea. Fourth is Tottenham.”

When pressed on the matter, Neymar confirmed “no Liverpool” - only for Jurgen Klopp's side to finish second in the domestic competition with a record-breaking 97-point haul while also claiming the club's sixth European Cup trophy.

Meanwhile, Neymar was made to rue his words as PSG were knocked out of the Champions League by Manchester United in the Round of 16 last season.

It's safe to say Neymar won't be making any such predictions this term as the Reds get set to defend their European title and PSG once again try and make it past the quarter-finals for the first time in their history.

Liverpool travel to Napoli in their first Champions League group game of the 2019/20 season on September 17 before facing Red Bull Salzburg at home on October 2.

PSG meanwhile host Real Madrid in their first group match of the competition on September 18 before travelling away to Galatasaray on October 1.

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