Richard Jolly: One year on from their moment of glory, Liverpool face greatest test of them all

Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch leads out the warm-up during training yesterday ahead of tonight’s clash with Real Madrid. Photo: Ed Sykes/Reuters

Liverpool faced Real Madrid and Manchester City in a week and, at the end of it, it was reasonable to conclude they were the best team in the world at that point.

The statement requires the use of the past tense because it was a year ago, when Liverpool beat the reigning champions of Europe and England in a heady few days. No such claims could be made now. Not after victory over Aston Villa merely reduced their recent record to six defeats in eight.