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John Arne Riise believes Tuesday's result against Inter Milan could transform Liverpool's season.
The Reds are enduring a nightmare campaign. They find themselves 10th in the Premier League table after picking up just two wins from their last 10 games in the competition, having also lost the Community Shield and been knocked out of the Carabao Cup.
Liverpool's European campaign is also not going to plan. Arne Slot's players were thumped 4-1 at home by PSV Eindhoven last time out to leave them 13th in the Champions League standings; a top-eight finish is needed to advance to the round of 16.
To make matters worse, talisman Mohamed Salah criticized both the club and Slot after Liverpool's 3-3 draw at Leeds on Saturday. Reds icon Riise claims that Liverpool needs a positive result against Inter on Tuesday, especially considering the Salah drama.
"I'm not quite sure that it's a must-win, but it's definitely getting more and more important as the season gets more difficult," Riise told FootItalia. "It would be a potentially huge match to win, because it’s a tough opponent and it’s the Champions League.
"For everything that is going on around the club now, with Mo Salah and the poor form, I think it could be transformative.
"It could give the club a huge boost in self-belief, and it could overhaul a negative feeling around the club.
"I think the club wants and needs the performances to speak for themselves now. There’s just so much noise around the club, and everything gets a little quieter when you’re winning football matches. Winning against Inter would be perfect."
Salah won't play against Inter following his comments at the weekend.
The Champions League could be Liverpool's best chance of winning silverware this season, but Riise, who won the competition with the Reds in 2005, has named three other contenders.
"It’s a hard question to answer," said Riise when asked who will win the Champions League this season. "Because this season, there is no one candidate who looks like the clear favorite.
"There’s nobody I can go straight to and pick. There’s nobody obvious who can run away with it; it’s really tough to pick a winner.
"Of course, there are a few contenders now. There’s Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona.
"I wouldn’t be shocked if any of them lift the trophy come the end of the season, but I don’t see an obvious favorite this year."
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