Liverpool are looking to extend their 100% record in the Champions League on Wednesday as they welcome reigning European champions Real Madrid to Anfield.
By Sam McGuire
Arne Slot will be looking to achieve something Jürgen Klopp failed to do while in charge of the Reds, he’ll be looking to defeat the Spanish giants. The German tactician never managed to beat Los Blancos during his time on Merseyside.
The season so far in Europe
Liverpool have been perfect this term. The Reds have played four and won four in Europe. They’re the only team in the Champions League to have a 100% record. Slot has guided his side to victories against AC Milan, Bologna, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen. The Reds humbled the Bundesliga champions 4–0 in their last outing to send a message to the rest of Europe.
Only Inter and Atalanta (both on zero) have conceded fewer goals than the Premier League leaders (one) while Barcelona (15) and Borussia Dortmund (13) can better Liverpool’s haul of 10 Champions League goals this term.
They are the top-rated FotMob team with an average rating of 7.34. By comparison, Real Madrid are ranked ninth with a FotMob rating of 7.1.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side have struggled in Europe this term, winning two and losing two of their opening four matches. Ahead of the Matchday 5 games on Tuesday evening (the time of writing), they find themselves in 18th position in the new-look Champions League format. Real Madrid have conceded seven goals in their opening four matches and are yet to keep a clean sheet. VfB Stuttgart, Lille, Dortmund and Milan have all found a way past the reigning champions.
Los Blancos have been giving up chances too. Their Expected Goals against total for the season in Europe is 7.2. They’re a threat going forward and rank second for xG this term with 11, but defensively they have been a shambles.
Liverpool, meanwhile, have been dominant at both ends of the pitch. They rank third for xG (10.4) and have the third lowest xG Against (2.8). The key difference between the two teams is what is going on in the defensive third.
Previous encounters
The Reds have a horrific record against Real Madrid. Their last win over the LaLiga team arrived in 2009. Since then, there have been eight matches between the two sides and Liverpool’s best result was a 0-0 draw in the second leg of a game. And that was a match they needed to win after losing the first leg 3-1.
Madrid have kept a clean sheet in three of the last four meetings between the two sides.
Across Klopp’s time with Liverpool, the two teams faced off on six occasions. The Spanish team scored 13 goals and conceded just four times. It was a very one-sided match-up.
A win for the Reds here won’t exorcise the demons of 2018, 2021, 2022 or 2023, but it’d be a big statement in the grand scheme of things for Slot and his squad.
Current form
Liverpool eked out a 3-2 win over Southampton on Sunday to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table to eight points. The Reds have won their last five across all competitions and are unbeaten in 14. During this run, they have won 13 games.
They have been relentless and ruthless this season under the former Feyenoord boss. Even injuries to Alisson Becker, Diogo Jota and Trent Alexander-Arnold haven’t derailed them.
Mohamed Salah is in the form of his life too having adapted to the new tactics at Anfield. His double against Southampton took his tally to 10 goals and six assists in the Premier League. And he leads the way for assists in the Champions League with four.
Madrid are just four points off the summit in Spain with a game in hand. They bounced back from their 4-0 humbling in El Clásico to pick up maximum points from their last two matches in LaLiga.
Against Leganés, Kylian Mbappé scored his first goal in a month while Jude Bellingham found the back of the net for just the second time this season. Maybe they’ve timed their resurgence to perfection.
The Injury situation
Thibaut Courtois is back for Real Madrid. He started the game against Leganes and kept a clean sheet. However, Vinícius Júnior suffered an injury that will rule him out. He joined the likes of Dani Carvajal, Aurélien Tchouaméni, David Alaba, Éder Militão and Rodrygo in a fairly busy treatment room in the Spanish capital.
Liverpool are possibly without Alexander-Arnold and Alisson Becker while Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa are both still out. Kostas Tsimikas should be fit enough for a place on the bench having missed the game against Southampton with a knock.
One thing is for sure, this won’t be Liverpool’s best XI versus Real Madrid’s best XI.
Prediction
Liverpool should be able to finally defeat Real Madrid. If they do, they can use it as a springboard for their upcoming game in the Premier League against Manchester City. The Reds are in form and have a healthier looking squad. But you can never write off Los Blancos, especially not in the Champions League.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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