Liverpool will host Real Madrid in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 on Tuesday, hoping to pick up a morale-boosting win.
The Reds have bounced back after a series of disappointing performances with two impressive victories over Everton and Newcastle United in the Premier League. And Liverpool will be hoping to build on their recent performances and grind out a positive result against Real Madrid.
Liverpool will be well aware of the fact that they need to grind out an important result at Anfield if they want to get through to the quarter-finals of the Champions league.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid are coming into this game on the back of 4 wins from their last 5 matches across all competitions and they will be fairly confident of getting a good result at Anfield. Los Blancos have an excellent record against Liverpool and they are unbeaten in their last 6 outings against the Premier League joints.
Carlo Ancelotti has a few injury problems but Real Madrid have enough strength in depth to grind out a victory here. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
#UCL nights at Anfield ✨ #LIVRMA 🔜 pic.twitter.com/MCI1K4Q4KY
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 19, 2023
Team News and Tactics
Liverpool
Liverpool will be without the services of Calvin Ramsay, Luis Diaz, Arthur Melo, Ibrahima Konate and Thiago Alcantara due to injuries. Darwin Nunez picked up a shoulder injury against Newcastle United. But Jurgen Klopp has revealed that the Uruguayan international has a chance of featuring against Real Madrid.
The Reds are likely to line up in a 4-3-3 formation with Alisson Becker in goal. The Brazilian was sensational against Newcastle and the Reds will need him to step up once again against the likes of Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson will be deployed as the full-backs and they will look to protect the central defenders and offer creativity and width to the side as well. Stefan Bajcetic has been the pick of Liverpool midfielders in his recent outings, and the young Spaniard is likely to start once again.
Fabinho will anchor the midfield and look to break up the Real Madrid play. Meanwhile, club captain Jordan Henderson will look to add drive and defensive cover with his work rate. Roberto Firmino is expected to lead the line because of the injury to Darwin Nunez. Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah are expected to start as the wingers here.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Bajcetic; Salah, Firmino, Gakpo
Real Madrid
The Spanish giants are without the services of Ferland Mendy because of an injury. Aurelien Tchouameni and Toni Kroos are set to miss out through illness.
Real Madrid are likely to shape up in a 4-3-3 formation as well, with Thibaut Courtois in goal. The Belgian was exceptional against Liverpool in the Champions League final last season, and he will hope to replicate their performance here.
Dani Carvajal and David Alaba will be the full-backs for Real Madrid, with Eder Militao partnering Antonio Rudiger at the heart of the defence.
📋✅ Our squad for the match 🆚 @LFC!#UCL pic.twitter.com/VwdG1L0B3S
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) February 20, 2023
The Liverpool attackers have not been at their best this season. And the Real Madrid defensive unit will fancy their chances of stopping the home side here. In the midfield, Eduardo Camavinga is likely to be the defensive midfielder. And he will hope to break up Liverpool’s play.
Luka Modric will control the tempo of the game with his passing and flair. Dani Ceballos has been quite impressive for Real Madrid this season and he is likely to start as well.
Federico Valverde is likely to be deployed as the right-sided attacker here, and he will look to drop deep into the midfield from time to time in order to outnumber the Liverpool midfielders. Karim Benzema is set to lead the line with Vinicius Junior on the left flank.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Alaba; Modric, Camavinga, Ceballos; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Jr.
Key Stats
- Real Madrid have kept a clean sheet in their last three away matches against Liverpool in all competitions.
- Real Madrid have won five of their last six matches against Liverpool in all competitions.
- Real Madrid have only won one of their previous seven away fixtures against English teams.
- Liverpool have won all of their last five matches in the UEFA Champions League.
- Real Madrid are currently on a four-game winning streak following a La Liga defeat at Mallorca.
Player to Watch
Federico Valverde
The Uruguayan international has been in exceptional form over the past year. And he could cause all sorts of problems for the Liverpool defence with his driving runs and ability to find the back of the net. Furthermore, Valverde is a hardworking midfielder who will help out defensively as well.
Valverde will look to disrupt the Liverpool rhythm with his pressing and relentless work ethic. The 24-year-old midfielder has 12 goals across all competitions and Liverpool will have to be careful against him. His progress has also alerted clubs like Manchester United.
Prediction
Liverpool 1-2 Real Madrid
The Spanish giants are undoubtedly the better team here. And Real Madrid should be able to grind out a narrow victory over Liverpool at Anfield.
Liverpool can be a force to be reckoned with at home, especially in the Champions league. However, the Reds have not been at their best. Despite wins over Everton and Newcastle United, they have looked vulnerable for large periods in those games and Real Madrid have the quality and experience to exploit that. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Los Blancos.