Liverpool fans set off firecrackers outside Real Hotel

* Liverpool - Real: 3am on Wednesday 22/2, Hanoi time.

The fireworks were lit for about 30 seconds, at 2am on February 21, London time, near the entrance to the Albert Dock Hotel. This is where Real chose to station in Liverpool before the first leg of the 1/8 Champions League round at Anfield.

A video of the scene was circulated online. According to the Daily Mail, this group of fans wants to disturb the sleep of Real players, affecting the preparation process for the away team's match.

This is not the first time Liverpool fans have harassed their opponents to help the home team have an advantage. In 2019, they did the same before the semi-final second leg against Barca. At that time, Liverpool lost 0-3 in the first leg away but won 4-0 in the second leg to create one of the most dramatic comebacks in Champions League history.

Real is said to have enough experience to anticipate this trick of rival fans. They are the Liverpool cavalry team in the European arena in recent years. Liverpool lost five, drew one through the last six encounters with Real, including two defeats in the Champions League final in 2018 and 2022.

Liverpool hope playing at Anfield will be a fulcrum for them to gain an advantage in this match. Since losing to Napoli 1-4 in the opening match of the group stage, Klopp's teachers and students have won five matches in a row but are still only second in Group A and encounter Real. Liverpool are on a seven-match unbeaten streak at Anfield. But in the quarter-finals of the Champions League 2020-2021, Liverpool could not beat Real at home when drawing 0-0 after losing 1-3 in the first leg and being eliminated.