Liverpool may well have earned themselves the ‘dark horse’ status for this year’s Champions League.

If recent performances are anything to go by, nobody in their right mind would wish to face Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, though, not many will have tipped them for glory.

As the round of 16 approaches, Porto will be the next side to feel the wrath of the Reds’ potent attacking force.

It’s been a long time coming for Klopp’s men in aiming to secure their return to Europe’s elite, but it’s certainly been worth the wait.

Liverpool sailed through the group stages as table-toppers; inflicting two separate 7-0 humiliations along the way.

Should Liverpool progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, awaiting them will be the big boys of the competition.

The likes of Real Madrid, PSG, Barcelona, Juventus and Bayern Munich will be among those searching for a European crown to add to their collection, but the Reds may well go toe-to-toe with the titans of the modern era.

On their day, Klopp’s side are unplayable, unbeatable and unbearable; few would relish the opportunity to play them. Relentless gegenpressing, unrivalled tenacity and a strong sense of team spirit have been the main ingredients in Liverpool’s brand of gourmet football. It’s luxury viewing at times, while for the opposition on the receiving end of this heavy metal football; it’s more of a horror-show experience.

The champions-elect Manchester City, are one of the most recent sides who have fallen victim to Liverpool’s brand of death by football.

Having not lost in the league all season, Pep Guardiola’s men were simply doomed before they had even step foot onto the pitch at Anfield. Klopp’s men were up for it, the crowd were up for it, and in actual fact, so were Man City, though, nothing could have prepared them for the baptism of fire they were about to contest in.

Each gut-wrenching press by players on the pitch was celebrated as if it were a match-winning goal. The Citizens had picked apart each side they’d faced this campaign. Liverpool, however, refused to bow down to City’s artistry and as Mohamed Salah fired home to make it 4-1, it made you wonder who the champions to be out on the pitch really were.

The last time the Merseysiders featured in Europe’s prestigious competition was back in the 2014/15 season, where they fell at the first hurdle.

Being picked apart at home to Madrid to lose 3-0 was not a scoreline that left many open-mouthed, though, struggling against Basel and Ludogorets was not part of the script.

Brendan Rodgers’ men managed just one win in six games; an unconvincing 2-1 home triumph over Ludogorets, which required a Steven Gerrard stoppage time free-kick to secure three points.

Fast forward three seasons, though, and the potential of this current Liverpool side knows no bounds.

In 2014/15, Liverpool had Rickie Lambert and Mario Balotelli as their striking partnership, they now have Roberto Firmino leading the line, with the likes of Salah and Sadio Mane working in tandem with the Brazilian marksman.

This frightening attacking trio that Klopp has at his disposal has been able to wreak havoc on a weekly basis; taking no prisoners on their path to glory. Together, they have notched a highly impressive 58 goals and 28 assists in operation together this campaign (all competitions).

It’s not just the devastating attack that makes Liverpool the surprise package, but the much-maligned defence now seems a lot more secure with £75 million man Virgil van Dijk protecting it.

Can Liverpool really go all the way? 

There seems to have been a recent lapse in concentration from the sides who usually seem to be playing a different ball game to most.

Perhaps a power shift is on the horizon?

Madrid, who became the first side to win back-to-back Champions League titles last season, as they clinched their 12th trophy, now appear a side deprived of a winning mentality. When you’ve won all there is to win, finding the motivation to maintain the same performance levels year in year out can be a challenge.

While their bitter rivals Barcelona, who although are high-flying in La Liga, 17 points ahead of Los Blancos , appear to lack the same ruthless edge in front of goal that they had when MSN ( Messi, Suarez, Neymar) were firing on all cylinders. Neymar has moved on, though, it seems as if Barca haven’t quite managed to do the same.

And then there’s Bayern, who have won the Bundesliga for the last five years running, who again are runaway leaders, however, their  performances have been lacking gloss.

An ageing squad would seem to be the most plausible cause for the German side’s seemingly lethargic nature. Based on the 27 players at the club, the average age is 27.1 years.

The likes of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, who have been terrific servants for Bayern, are now both 34 years of age; an age at which career’s only tend to head one way.

On their day, Liverpool have the potential to put any side to the sword and playing over two legs works in the Reds’ favour.

European nights at Anfield are renowned for being a special occasion; when a side comes back to L4 territory, they won’t know what has hit them until the hairs on their arms stand up to the tune of 54,000 people singing You’ll Never Walk Alone in full voice.

Klopp’s side really are a force to be reckoned with. Shout it from the rooftops, let the world know. They may not believe it; they don’t have to, but they will soon enough.

Tom Cavilla.