Liverpool will look to maintain their winning streak in the Champions League when they host record winners Real Madrid at Anfield.
The fixture between Liverpool and Real Madrid has become quite a rivalry as the two have faced each other in two Champions League finals in the last six years. While Los Blancos have an impressive head-to-head record, they have not been at their best this season, and the Reds will look to pounce on the opportunity.
Arne Slot’s team sit at the top of the points table with four wins in as many games. They are the only team that are yet to drop points. While everyone expected this to be a transition season following Jurgen Klopp’s departure, the Dutch manager has done wonders for them both in the league and in Europe.
The Reds have won each of their last five games across competitions and are heading into this fixture on the back of a come-from-behind 3-2 win over Southampton. It might not have been their best performance, but they surely got the job done.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid have had a poor start to the new season given their lofty standards. They are second in La Liga and are very much in the race for the league title but they find themselves in the bottom half of the UEFA Champions League table following two defeats in four outings.
Having lost to LOSC Lille and AC Milan, another unfavourable result against Liverpool will set alarm bells ringing. A defeat at Anfield could cause serious problems for Carlo Ancelotti. The good news is they have won their last two league outings and will be heading into this fixture confident about their chances.
Los Blancos have won seven out of the 11 meetings between the two teams. Liverpool last won against Real Madrid back in March 2009, and this is a perfect opportunity for the Reds to bring an end to their poor run against the Spanish giants. The Hard Tackle takes a close look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.
Team News & Tactics
Liverpool
The home team will be without the services of Alisson Becker, Federico Chiesa and Diogo Jota. While Trent Alexander-Arnold also missed the game against Southampton, there are high chances of him making a return in this fixture. Meanwhile, Harvey Elliott could play a part against the Spanish giants after making it to their squad for the last outing.
Liverpool will line up in the 4-2-3-1 formation, where Caoimhin Kelleher will take charge in goal. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Konstantinos Tsimikas should be the full-backs, with Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk starting in the heart of the defence.
Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch should form the double pivot. They will shield the backline and at the same time look to control the tempo. Dominik Szoboszlai will take up the number ten role with Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz featuring on the flanks for the home team. Darwin Nunez should continue to lead the line for Liverpool against Real Madrid.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Nunez
Real Madrid
The away side have suffered another blow as Vinicius Junior has picked up an injury and is expected to be out for around three weeks. The Brazilian winger joins Rodrygo Goes, Eder Militao, Aurelien Tchouameni, Dani Carvajal, and David Alaba on the sidelines. While Lucas Vazquez is back in the squad, there are very low chances of him being involved in this fixture.
Carlo Ancelotti will go ahead with the 4-3-3 formation, where Thibaut Courtois will be in goal. Federico Valverde should continue to be the right-back, with Ferland Mendy on the opposite flank. In the heart of the defence, Raul Asencio will continue to partner with Antonio Rudiger.
As for the midfield unit, Jude Bellingham, Luka Modric and Eduardo Camavinga will form the trifecta. Modric and Camavinga will stay in a more holding role. They will look to provide protection to the backline, while Bellingham will have the freedom to go up and down.
Finally, Kylian Mbappe could get to start on the left flank in the absence of Vinicius Junior, with Arda Guler on the opposite flank. Meanwhile, Brahim Diaz could take up the number nine role, although he will drop deep to make room for Mbappe.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Rudiger, Mendy; Camavinga, Modric, Bellingham; Guler, Diaz, Mbappe
Key Stats
- Liverpool last won against Real Madrid back in March 2009.
- The Reds have avoided defeat just once in their last eight outings against Real Madrid. Two of those defeats came in the UEFA Champions League final.
- The two teams last met each other in the 2022/23 Champions League campaign, Madrid won 5-2 away and 1-0 at home.
- The Merseyside club has only won three games against Los Blancos. Their first win came back in the 1980/81 finals and the other two wins came during the 2008/09 Champions League round of 16 tie.
- Liverpool have won each of their last five games heading into this fixture.
Player to Watch
Kylian Mbappe
With Vinicius Junior out injured, Mbappe will get to feature on his preferred left flank. This opportunity in a wider role could bring the best out of the French international, who already has nine goals and two assists in his 17 outings for his new club.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner will surely be the one to watch out for. Given how inconsistent Madrid have been in the UEFA Champions League this season, Ancelotti will hope the 25-year-old brings his A game to the table against Liverpool.
Prediction
Liverpool 2-3 Real Madrid
Given the kind of form Liverpool have been in this season, they will surely be confident of bringing an end to their eight-match winless run against Real Madrid. While Los Blancos have not been at their best, and they will be playing without quite a few first-team stars, they still have a lot of quality to challenge the Merseyside club. The Hard Tackle predicts a hard-fought 3-2 win for the visitors.
