Sky Sports pundit Stephen Warnock believes Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian needs more protection from the defence during the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 tie against Atletico Madrid. The Reds succumbed to a 1-0 defeat during the away leg at the Wanda Metropolitano last month where they failed to manage a single shot on target.
On Wednesday night, the Reds are due to host Atletico at Anfield for the second leg and they are expected to be without Alisson Becker, who is sidelined with a hip problem. As such, Adrian is set to be handed with the role between the sticks and Warnock feels the Spaniard will need protection from the Reds backline on the night.
He told: “I believe he is a more than capable goalkeeper of coming in. The big worry I have, it’s not a worry, but when I think of Liverpool’s win against Barcelona. Alisson made three or four unbelievable saves in the game that kept them with a clean sheet. Will Adrian be able to do the same thing? Will he be capable of making the saves that Alisson made? I am not too sure that he will. But then it’s up to Liverpool’s defence to protect him as much as they can. But he’s more than capable because he is a very good goalkeeper.”
Adrian joined the Reds on a free transfer at the beginning of the campaign and he made his debut for the club during the league opener after a calf injury for Alisson. The Spaniard kept the gloves until early October before Alisson made his comeback. Adrian has played back-to-back games for the Reds this month with the setback for Alisson but he has not kept a clean sheet in any of those matches. He was culpable for a goalkeeping mistake in the FA Cup fifth round defeat to Chelsea but the fans will be hoping that he can produce a solid performance against Atletico.