Liverpool v Real Madrid is the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 and is played on Tuesday at 21:00: live TV, line-ups, predictions
If Liverpool were dreaming of a rematch soon, the draw at Nyon has pleased Reds fans. Nine months after the final in Paris, which sealed the return of the Blancos to the roof of Europe four years after the last time, Jurgen Klopp’s men find Carlo Ancelotti and his Real Madrid on their way again.
A challenge that has become a classic in recent editions of the Champions League: in addition to the big match in the last edition, Liverpool and Real also clashed in the 2018 final in Kiev and two years ago in the quarter-finals. Two previous fixtures in which – as was the case in May in the French capital – the Spaniards always prevailed. The night at the Parc des Princes saw the triumph of the Merengues, who became European champions despite not playing a memorable match. Of that final, Courtois’s miracles and Vinicius’s goal at the start of the second half that broke the legs of the English side will remain in history. Liverpool will therefore seek ‘revenge’ in an electrifying double-header, ready to provide endless emotions. The first act will be staged in the temple of Anfield, where Salah and his team-mates have recently returned to winning ways after a nightmarish start. In the Premier League they have only revived their fourth place ambitions in the last two days, beating Everton and Newcastle without conceding a goal.
Last May Vinicius was decisive
Yes, one only has to look at the league table to see that the risk of Liverpool being left out of the most important cup is very high: fourth place is currently seven points away, although Tottenham have played two more games than the Reds.
Vinicius
It goes without saying that the Champions League remains the one big target for Klopp, who can no longer win titles at home, having been out of the title fight for months now. The chances of finishing ahead of everyone else in La Liga are also slim for Real Madrid, who due to a disappointing 2023 – at least as far as the league is concerned – ended up -8 behind rivals Barcelona. Ancelotti’s battleship has recently triumphed in the Club World Cup in Morocco, adding yet another title to its rich trophy cabinet, but there have been many missteps in the last two months, such as the defeat in the Spanish Super Cup against Xavi’s Blaugrana. After the Moroccan adventure, however, Real brought home two clear-cut and well-deserved victories against Elche (4-0) and Osasuna (0-2).
Liverpool v Real Madrid: latest line-up news
One of the reasons for Liverpool’s bad moment was undoubtedly the injury that kept defender van Dijk off the pitch. The Dutchman is now back and it is no coincidence that the Reds have not conceded a goal in their last two outings. The infirmary is slowly emptying and the only unavailable players remain Luis Diaz and Thiago Alcantara. In the attacking trident will be the winter-market purchase Gakpo, who scored against both Everton and Newcastle: he will flank Salah and Darwin Nunez.
On the other side, Ancelotti is crossing his fingers and hoping to have back three big names such as Benzema, Kroos and Tchouaméni, but the chances of starting them at Anfield are very slim. The other absentee is Mendy: Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger and Alaba will play in defence. In the middle, next to Modric should be Ceballos and Camavinga. Up front, the only certainties at the moment are Valverde and Vinicius, the latter a real nightmare for Liverpool.
The prediction
That Real Madrid rarely disappoint on big occasions like this is now common knowledge. But the match at Anfield against a Liverpool team that has just emerged from crisis may hold some pitfalls for Ancelotti’s team, which does not give the impression of having solved all its problems and is struggling with the doubtful Benzema. The Reds are on the rise and will try to keep their salvation hopes alive ahead of the return leg. It is not out of the question that they can at least avoid defeat in a game with at least one goal each.
Liverpool v Real Madrid matchday squad
- LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Bajcetic; Salah, Darwin Núñez, Gakpo.
- REAL MADRID (4-3-3): Courtois; Carvajal, Éder Militão, Rüdiger, Alaba; Modrić, Ceballos, Camavinga; Valverde, Benzema, Vinícius Jr.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
