Liverpool predicted lineup vs Real Madrid

Liverpool are unbeaten in their last fourteen matches and have yet to register anything less than a win in the UEFA Champions League, sitting at the top of the table with twelve points from twelve. Wins against AC Milan, Bayer Leverkusen, Bologna and RB Leipzig have taken the Reds to the only unbeaten record remaining in European competition.

However, their task will not be made any easier as current defending European champions Real Madrid arrive at Anfield to knock the Merseyside club off their perch. Madrid go into this match on the back of some terrible injury luck and some lackluster performances with rumors of Carlo Ancelotti’s job on the line. Currently placed second in La Liga behind bitter rivals Barcelona with a four-point gap and a staggering eighteenth in the Champions League table, with just six points secured from the available twelve.

This game is not to be taken lightly as it was made abundantly clear against Southampton that mistakes are punishable. And this Real Madrid team will punish even the smallest mistake.

Liverpool

Arne Slot spoke during the press conference before the match and confirmed the following absence:

Alisson Becker (hamstring), Diogo Jota (ribs), Federico Chiesa (physical discomfort), Kostas Tsimikas (ankle)

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harvey Elliott return to the side but will not feature in the starting eleven

Real Madrid

Daniel Carvajal (cruciate ligament injury), David Alaba (cruciate ligament injury), Eder Militao (cruciate ligament injury), Aurelien Tchouameni (sprained ankle), Rodrygo (muscle injury), Vinicius Jnr (thigh injury)

Liverpool – (4-2-3-1)

GK – Caoimhin Kelleher: With Alisson edging closer and closer to being back in the starting XI, Kelleher takes the helm again and boasts impressive numbers which were only added to at the weekend with a brilliant penalty stop where he was unlucky with the follow-up and a massive save just before the half-time whistle to keep the game level. The Irishman will need to be at his best for this clash, Real Madrid have more than enough firepower across their side to punish any mistakes.

RB – Conor Bradley: With Trent Alexander-Arnold set to be sidelined for this game at least, before returning fit to face Manchester City this weekend, the young Northern Irishman will have one of the game’s biggest tasks. Helps contain Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe. This will be a true test of the young defender’s skills and could be the key match of the game.

CB – Ibrahima Konate: Conor Bradley will be tasked with both defending Kylian Mbappe and providing width in attack, so that means Ibou will have the most defensive duties on the right, both Bellingham and Mbappe will favor that side and look to attack his channel, but with the form Konate is in, I’d put the house on the Liverpudlian Frenchman. Before this match, Konate had yet to lose a duel against Madrid’s star winger Vinicius Jnr, but with the Brazilian out through injury, we unfortunately won’t get to see the epic match.

CB – Virgil van Dijk: The rock at the back, the stone wall in Liverpool’s defense is one of the biggest contributors to our success tomorrow night. He will need to keep his back line ridiculously disciplined and have them all on top of their game for the attacking prowess that Real Madrid can deploy. His interplay with Kelleher and Gravenberch will be key to unlocking the press and defensive lines of the Spanish team.

LB – Andrew Robertson: With the injury to Kostas, Robbo is the man to fill that role. This is the game where we need the old Robertson to return. The bright lights of a Champions League night game at Anfield is where we’ve seen the Scottish full-back come to life before. With some very shaky performances in recent weeks and some mental errors against Southampton, one of which almost led to a goal, Andy will need to be wide awake for this affair.

CDM – Ryan Gravenberch: This is it. This is the biggest test of the season for the young Dutchman. Forget United, forget Arsenal, that’s it. This is the game where Ryan Gravenberch can show that he has truly arrived. Against a midfield of former Liverpool transfer targets with Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde – albeit at right-back – and of course the ever-linked Kylian Mbappe. This is the arrangement where the 22-year-old midfielder can cement himself as the answer to Liverpool’s defensive midfield woes. And I can’t wait to see it happen.

CDM – Alexis MacAllister: After a long trip home from international duty and not starting this weekend’s game, I can see Mac Allister being a big part of Liverpool’s midfield tomorrow night. With him and Ryan paired, I think this midfield can outrun Madrid’s midfield and play through them with ease. It will be a pleasure to watch.

CAM – Dominik Szoboszlai: Dom finally got back on the scoresheet for Liverpool for his first goal of the season since his goal against AC Milan earlier this year in the Champions League. The hope is that he has finally found his shooting boots, but the final minutes of the game against Southampton suggest otherwise. With a charging Darwin Nunez looking for a weighted pass to send him through, Dom opted to dribble sideways into the opposition box and play it wide to Luis Diaz, which ended up with Mo Salah hitting the post and nothing coming of it. As an attacking midfielder, it’s shocking not to play that pass. Let’s hope he has learned from this mistake and will play the decisive pass if the opportunity presents itself.

RW – Mohamed Salah: The Ballon D’or attack man just added two more goals to his tally at the weekend, taking him to twenty-two assists in seventeen games so far this season. Absolutely ridiculous numbers for a man without a contract at the end of the season. After his comments after the Southampton game, it looks like Salah is on a revenge spree and there is no better team to face in that aspect than the same team that stripped him of two more Champions League winners’ medals and was deliberately injured in one. Salah will be looking for revenge tomorrow night.

ST – Darwin Nunez: An unsung hero in the win over Southampton, with the striker doing a serious amount of dirty work that doesn’t show up on a stat sheet. Holds the Southampton defenders back, giving the wingers space to attack and create chances, pressing hard and forcing errors from the Southampton defenders which ultimately led to the first goal. And was a breath away from an assist, with a brilliant square ball to Luis Diaz, but the Colombian was only one step ahead.

LW – Luis Diaz: After his return from international duty, Diaz came on in the second half against Southampton and brought great energy to the side, and with him set to face an out of position Valverde, this could be the best time for the Colombian to strike, currently Liverpool’s top scorer in the competition and he could also find himself on the scoresheet tomorrow night!

Real Madrid – (4-4-2)

Courtois, Valverde, Asencio, Rudiger, Mendy, Guler, Camavinga, Modric, Bellingham, Diaz, Mbappe

Ryan Gravenberch

Expect the midfield to run through Ryan Gravenberch. He will be the pressure release valve. The connection between the front and back lines will enable Liverpool to beat Real Madrid’s pressure. He will be his usual self on the defensive side of the ball, but watch his dribbling and passing skills come alive tomorrow night. He already showed his passing skills with a beautifully weighted pass to Mohamed Salah for his first goal of the game at the weekend.

Kylian Mbappe

With both Vinicius Jnr and Rodrygo facing spells on the sidelines, the attacking load will have to be carried by the young Frenchman. However, he will have the toughest task ahead of him tomorrow night, with Liverpool boasting the best defensive record in all of Europe’s top 5 leagues. Only twelve goals were conceded in all competitions and the lowest xG conceded too. With a centre-back pair of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, and a goalkeeper in great form with Kelleher. Madrid will have an uphill battle to score against this Liverpool side.

When? – Wednesday 27 November at 20.00 BST

Where? – Anfield

Official of the match? – François Letexier

Where to look? – RTE Player / Discovery+ / RTE 2 / Premier Sports ROI 1

The current head-to-head record for the teams is Liverpool 0 wins, Real Madrid 7 wins and 1 draw(s). Liverpool have odds of 1.83 to win, 3.90 to draw and 3.90 to Real Madrid to win. According to the bookmakers, Liverpool are favorites to win the match.