Liverpool and Real Madrid meet in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg on Tuesday 21 February.
What do you need to know?
After Real Madrid beat Liverpool in last season’s UEFA Champions League final, coach Carlo Ancelotti said the Reds were “easier to decipher” than some of his side’s other opponents en route to the final. The Italian will see whether he really has definitively cracked Liverpool’s code when the teams meet at Anfield: their tenth European Cup encounter in total, with Madrid 5-3 up in terms of wins so far.
Predicted line-ups
Liverpool: Alisson Becker; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Bajcetic; Salah, Núñez, Gakpo
Out: Luis Díaz (knee), Thiago Alcántara (hip)
Doubtful: Konaté (hamstring), Núñez (shoulder)
Misses next match if booked: Alexander-Arnold
Real Madrid: Courtois; Carvajal, Éder Militão, Rüdiger, Alaba; Modrić, Ceballos, Camavinga; Valverde, Benzema, Vinícius Júnior
Out: Kroos (illness), Mendy (hamstring), Tchouameni (Ilness), Mariano (not in squad)
Doubtful: Benzema (fatigue)
Form guide
Liverpool
Form (all competitions, most recent first): WWLLDW
Where they stand: 8th in Premier League
Real Madrid
Form (all competitions, most recent first): WWWWLW
Where they stand: 2nd in Liga, Copa del Rey semi-finals
Expert predictions
Matthew Howarth, Liverpool reporter
What a difference nine months makes. Having come within two victories of a historic quadruple last term, Liverpool were struggling to put any kind of run together prior to recent back-to-back Premier League victories over Everton and Newcastle. It has been a turbulent season so far for Jürgen Klopp and his players, but there have been signs of late that the Reds are returning to something approaching their best form. What better opportunity to continue their upward trajectory than with a game against the reigning European champions at a raucous Anfield?
What the coaches say
Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool coach: “We need to play two super games to go through. Madrid don’t need to play special and they still have a chance. I’m really happy we can play this game now rather than a few weeks ago. I expect Anfield on their toes. Let’s go together again.”
Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid coach: “The team is in good shape, keen and eager to do well like last year, knowing that it is a difficult tie and that there is a second leg to come. We are excited to be back in this competition again. Last season’s final in Paris brings back good memories. It was an even game. They had more possession but we were good at the back. It’s different now because there are two legs. We have factored that in. We have to be good for 180 minutes.”
Source: Uefa.com