Who: Liverpool vs Actual Madrid
What: Champions League group stage
The place: Anfield, Liverpool
When: Tuesday at 8pm (20:00 GMT)
Methods to observe: We’ll have all of the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 17:00 GMT prematurely of our reside textual content commentary stream.
Actual Madrid coach Xabi Alonso returns to Anfield to face his former facet within the Champions League after an almost immaculate begin to life within the Spanish capital.
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Whereas Premier League champions Liverpool have simply two wins of their final eight video games, Alonso’s Madrid are on a excessive, remodeled from final season and enhancing weekly below the Basque supervisor.
Madrid’s solely defeat this season got here in a 5-2 derby humiliation by Atletico Madrid, and Alonso’s facet have rebounded since. Final weekend in La Liga, the 15-time European champions beat Clasico rivals Barcelona.
Whereas Arne Slot’s Liverpool have struggled in latest weeks, a 2-0 win over Aston Villa within the Premier League on Saturday – together with a purpose for out-of-sorts star Mohamed Salah – ought to give them a confidence increase as they welcome Los Blancos to Anfield.
Alonso shaping new Actual Madrid
Many Liverpool followers hoped Alonso would take the reins at Anfield when Jurgen Klopp introduced he would depart the membership on the finish of the 2023-2024 season.
As a participant, Alonso, elegant on the ball, was the brains of Liverpool’s midfield from 2004 to 2009. He was key to the 2005 Champions League triumph in Istanbul and received the FA Cup amongst different silverware earlier than departing for Actual Madrid.
As a coach, Alonso stayed for an additional 12 months at Bayer Leverkusen after which stepped into Carlo Ancelotti’s footwear after Madrid ended final season with no main trophy.
He has made a rapid impression on the Santiago Bernabeu with Madrid successful 13 of their 14 matches this season.
Ancelotti discovered it exhausting to make his star-studded assault press opponents, however Alonso’s facet have larger depth with out the ball and are extra sturdy.
“To win trophies, you must defend properly, acquiring many clear sheets,” Alonso stated as Madrid secured their seventh win of the season in a 4-0 rout of Valencia on Saturday.
Alonso has additionally proven his willingness to make tactical shifts throughout video games and between matches whereas Ancelotti’s facet had been extra predictable.
The coach determined his group will prepare earlier than heading to Merseyside, so Liverpool get no clues to how he’ll method the match.
“It’s my determination [not to train at Anfield]. We want to do it at residence, in our house, so that they don’t put 200 cameras on us,” Alonso stated.
Mbappe thrives whereas Vinicius Jr fumes
French striker Kylian Mbappe missed a penalty final season at Anfield as Madrid fell to a 2-0 defeat. It was a low level as he struggled for confidence earlier than rediscovering his kind later within the season.
This season, Mbappe already has 18 targets in all competitions whereas including urgent to his sport on the behest of Alonso.
One other revitalised participant is England worldwide Jude Bellingham. With targets in opposition to Barcelona, Juventus and Valencia up to now couple of weeks, the midfielder is turning into key to Alonso’s facet.
Nevertheless, not all of Alonso’s stars have been in a glowing disposition. Winger Vinicius Jr confirmed his frustration together with his coach publicly throughout El Clasico, storming off in a match of histrionics when substituted.
The Brazilian made a public apology to the followers and the membership with out mentioning his coach though Alonso stated the matter was resolved, and Vinicius Jr impressed in opposition to Valencia regardless of lacking a penalty.
Alexander-Arnold not sure what reception awaits
Madrid proper again Trent Alexander-Arnold may face a rancorous reception when he returns to Anfield however stated no quantity of hostility from followers may dampen his love for his boyhood membership.
His determination to not signal a brand new deal on the membership final season prompted an offended response from many Liverpool supporters who jeered him in a Premier League sport in opposition to Arsenal in Might after he stated he wished to expertise a brand new problem.
“I believe whichever manner I’m obtained is the choice of the followers,” Alexander-Arnold informed Amazon Prime on Sunday. “I’ll all the time love the membership. I’ll all the time be a fan of the membership.
“It doesn’t matter what, my emotions received’t change in direction of Liverpool. I’ve obtained reminiscences there that can final me a lifetime, and regardless of how I’m obtained, that received’t change.”
Slot says luck lastly on Liverpool’s facet
Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa ended a four-game Premier League dropping streak that had piled strain on the Reds.
Salah turned the third participant in Liverpool historical past to attain 250 targets when he struck in first-half damage time, and Ryan Gravenberch scored within the second half after lacking three video games with an ankle damage in solely their second win in eight matches throughout all competitions.
“The margins are small each single sport. At the moment after 5 minutes, they [Morgan Rogers] hit the submit,” Slot informed BBC Match of the Day. “We didn’t concede [from] a set piece, which was useful, but additionally we obtained a bit fortunate, which hasn’t occurred just lately. Our second purpose was a deflection.”
“When [Villa] hit the submit, that was their largest probability. The previous couple of weeks, each time that ball went in, now it didn’t.”
Waiting for the conflict with Madrid, Slot stated: “You all the time stay up for a Champions League night time. In opposition to Actual Madrid it’s much more particular. It’s a problem however a problem to stay up for.”
Head-to-head
The 2 storied golf equipment first locked horns within the 1981 European Cup closing, which Liverpool edged 1-0.
They’ve now performed one another 12 occasions with Madrid successful seven of these video games, Liverpool successful 4 and one ending as a draw.
Whereas Madrid have received seven of the final 9 encounters, Liverpool triumphed the final time the 2 sides met – a 2-0 win at Anfield in November final 12 months within the group stage of the Champions League.
Liverpool’s group information
Report signing Alexander Isak and versatile midfielder Curtis Jones each missed Saturday’s win over Aston Villa with groin points and are main doubts for the sport in opposition to Madrid.
First-choice keeper Alisson Becker stays sidelined with a hamstring problem, however Liverpool have an in a position deputy in Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Proper again Jeremy Frimpong has additionally been dominated out with a hamstring downside whereas central defender Giovanni Leoni is a long-term absentee with a torn ACL.
Florian Wirtz and Milosz Kerkez had been benched for the Villa sport, and it’s probably Slot will persist with their replacements Alexis Mac Allister and Andy Robertson for Madrid’s go to.
Actual Madrid’s group information
Los Blancos probably journey to Merseyside with out the providers of three key defenders.
Dani Carvajal and Antonio Rudiger have been dominated out with knee and muscle accidents, respectively, whereas David Alaba has been battling a calf problem – though he has a slim probability of being handed match for Tuesday’s sport.
In Carvajal’s absence, Alexander-Arnold is about to be handed a begin in opposition to his former membership.
Liverpool’s predicted beginning lineup
Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitike
Actual Madrid’s predicted beginning lineup
Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Militao, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Tchouameni; Guler, Bellingham, Vinicius Jr; Mbappe
