Los Blancos, the defending champions, travel to Anfield this evening to write another chapter in the illustrious Liverpool vs Real Madrid rivalry.

The 15 time UEFA Champions League winners have found the new format difficult to say the least. Losses to AC Milan at the Santiago Bernabéu and away to Lille, leave them 18th in the table. However, with star-names in Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr manager Carlo Ancelotti will still be eyeing up el decimosexto.

Real Madrids turbulent start to La Liga pitted out, now sitting 2nd in the table, 4 points behind Barcelona with a game in-hand. A commanding 4-0 win against CA Osasuna, followed by 0-3 win away to CD Leganes will give them much needed momentum for a hostile trip to Anfield.

Kylian Mbappe’s goal threat will be ever present, so far he’s scored 9 in all competitions. Thibaut Courtois, the intimidating figure in the Real Madrid goal, was the MOTM in the 2022 UEFA Champions League Final. He’s kept 3 clean sheets in the last 4 meetings, regarded as one of the worlds best in-between the sticks.

Madridstas won’t be lacking confidence, having won 7 out of their last 8 meetings with Liverpool. Their most recent visit a 2-5 victory over the reds in 2023.

The last time Liverpool won this fixture was a famous night in 2009. Goals from Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and late substitute Andrea Dossena wrapped a 4-0 win. A historic night under the Anfield lights, let’s hope for the 2nd act tonight.

Arne Slot will look to write his own history in this fixture having never faced Real Madrid, it’s a clean slate for our boss. Avenging shortcomings will be the agenda for Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andrew Robertson, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah. They’re the only players left from the 18 named in Kyiv. Many of the current side tasted defeated in Paris.

Carlo Ancelotti will be with selection issues. Ballon d’Or runner- up Vinicius Jr will miss the tie due to injury, he’s scored 4 in the UEFA Champions League so far. They’ll be without some real quality in vice-captain Dani Carvajal. Key names in David Alaba, Eder Militao, Aurelien Tchouameni and Rodrygo are all absent from the travelling squad.

It’s one in, one out for Liverpools full-backs. Kostas Tsimikas is the newest entrant to the treatment room, after sustaining an injury in training. Alisson Becker will not be making an Anfield return for this one. Diogo Jota and Fedrico Chiesa are also injured. However, Arne Slot confirmed Trent Alexander-Arnold “is in the squad but will not be available to start.” He will be more than up for this one.

Liverpool are long overdue a win in this fixture, feared in Europe and riding high on confidence they’ll be looking to collect another scalp on the road to Munich.

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