have a bit of history and have faced each other six times (across four ties) in the last seven Champions League campaigns, including the 2018 and 2022 finals, with the Spanish side unbeaten across that period. That has got to sting if you are wearing red. The memories of Salah v Ramos, Gareth Bale’s bicycle kick v Loris Karius and Vini Jr/Karim Benzema turning on the style are still raw.
But this is a new era for Liverpool, and a particularly sticky period for Real Madrid. Liverpool have a 100% European record in the new format, while Madrid are currently 21st of the 36 teams at the half-way point of the league phase (formerly known as the group stage). Lose at Anfield, and there is the small possibility that they might not make the top 24 and qualify for the next round.
Moreover, Kylian Mbappé has not yet found his form as a central striker, Jude Bellingham has also not hit the heights of last season after being shunted out on the right and Madrid’s injury list is lenghty: Vini Jr out for a few weeks, while key players Rodrygo, Éder Militão, Dani Carvajal, Lucas Vázquez, Aurélien Tchouaméni and David Alaba are also sidelined.
Liverpool, however, are flying (despite the distraction of Mo Salah’s contract situation) under Arne Slot. There has rarely been a better time to face the famous team in white.
Kick-off: 8pm GMT.
Source: theguardian.com
