Dani Carvajal believes Real Madrid will expose Liverpool in Saturday's Champions League final if they can break past their "first line of pressure".
Reds manager Jurgen Klopp is famed for his "Gegenpressing" style of play, which aims to press opponents when the ball is in the opposition territory. Liverpool aim to counter the counter attack under the German, a method which has brought them huge success.
The Reds have won six trophies under Klopp - the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup - enjoying the most successful period in the Merseyside club's history since the late eighties.
To put their success in perspective, Liverpool won just one major trophy between their FA Cup triumph in 2006 and their Champions League victory in 2018 - the EFL Cup in 2012. They have become one of the best teams in Europe again thanks to Klopp's philosophy.
"Gegenpressing lets you win back the ball nearer to the goal," said Klopp, as quoted by GOAL. "It's only one pass away from a really good opportunity. No playmaker in the world can be as good as a good gegenpressing situation, and that's why it's so important."
Yet Carvajal is confident Real can be successful if they can bypass Liverpool's press. "If we get past that first line of pressure we can create a lot of danger," said the 30-year-old defender, as quoted by Marca. "It could be one of the keys to the game."
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Both teams are aiming to win their third trophy of the season in Paris on Saturday. Real have already won La Liga - finishing 13 points ahead of Barcelona in second - and the Spanish Super Cup, while Liverpool have lifted the FA Cup and EFL Cup.
The two teams have history in this competition. The Reds defeated Real 1-0 in the European Cup final in 1981. Alan Kennedy scored the winning goal, ironically in Paris. The Spanish giants, meanwhile, beat Liverpool 3-1 in the final in Kyiv four years ago.
If victorious on Saturday, Real will have won five of the last nine Champions League finals. "The fifth final... you assume it naturally but when time passes we will realise what we are achieving," added Carvajal, who is aiming for his fifth European crown.
Real's hopes of winning this season's Champions League could depend on Ballon d'Or favourite Karim Benzema. The 34-year-old is enjoying the season of his life in Spain, scoring 44 goals in 45 games to inspire his team to Paris.
"They're very good," said Benzema when asked how Real can beat Liverpool. "They haven't changed much over the years. But in the end we have to look at our game. And if we do our thing, then what happens happens. I'm confident."
Benzema went on to say: "They [Liverpool] put a lot of pressure on you. You have to hold on and play on the counterattack... or with the ball."
