Ferdinand fears Liverpool would destroy Real in potential C/League final

Rio Ferdinand fears Real Madrid will be destroyed by Liverpool should they meet in the Champions League final later this month.

The holders booked their place in a third consecutive final following a fortuitous 4-3 aggregate win over Bayern Munich.

A dreadful goalkeeping error from Sven Ulreich and some wayward finishing ultimately cost the Bundesliga champions victory, but Ferdinand believes Zinedine Zidane’s side will be punished by Jurgen Klopp’s rampant side if he persists with a 4-4-2 formation.

“If Real Madrid go into that game with a 4-4-2 like they did today I think they’ll get picked apart and destroyed in the final,” Ferdinand told BT Sport.

“I don’t see them doing that. I think they will play with a three in midfield and making sure they don’t get outnumbered in there.

“Winning the midfield battle in these games is a vital area. You get control and then you can pick your punches and start winning games.

“Playing the 4-4-2 system played into Bayern Munich’s hands and they controlled the midfield through Thiago and Tolisso.”

Ferdinand’s former England teammate Frank Lampard added: “We kept highlighting areas inside full-backs and down the sides of the centre-halves. We saw it time and time again.

We know Liverpool’s strength is to get in these areas. If you start imagining players like Salah and Mane, even the full-backs Robertson overlapping that’s where Liverpool are so strong.

“If Real Madrid give them those chances then they can certainly hurt them.”

Liverpool will attempt to confirm their place in the Kiev showpiece this evening when they meet Roma, 5-2 ahead following last week’s first leg at Anfield.