In a Mouthwatering Clash, The Reds Hosts The Merengues at Anfield in a Game For Revenge
(Credits to: Liverpool France).
By: Minna Ibrahim.
Liverpool will be hosting Real Madrid the reigning champions of the UCL (UEFA Champions League) in an awaited game on the 21th of February at 3:00 PM EST and 10:00 PM EET, at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool city.
By repeating last year’s final, the two teams will face each other again this year but this time in the round of 16. For Liverpool, this game is considered as a game of revenge, after losing 2 finals against the Merengues. The first one was in 2018, when the Spanish team won with 3-1 result, and the second one was last year in the 2022 Final when they won by a 1-0 result, by a goal by the Brazilian striker “Vinícius Júnior”.
Vinicius goal in 2022 UCL Final (Credits to: Le Monde).
Squad:
REAL MADRID SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Courtois, Lunin and Luis López.
Defenders: Carvajal, E. Militão, Alaba, Vallejo, Nacho, Odriozola, Lucas V. and Rüdiger.
Midfielders: Modrić, Camavinga, Valverde, D. Ceballos, Mario Martín and Arribas.
Forwards: Hazard, Benzema, Asensio, Vini Jr., Rodrygo and Álvaro.
On the other side, Jürgen Klopp -Liverpool’s Coach- didn’t announce the reds’ squad, and the team's official website only announced the absences in the game till the moment.
Team News and Absences:
For Real Madrid, the team will miss 4 players, Toni Kroos and Aurelien Tchoamini due to the flu, and Ferland Mendy and Mariano Diaz due to injury.
For Liverpool, Thiago Alcantara will be out after suffering from a hip injury, similarly for Luis Diaz who suffered an injury during Liverpool's warm-weather training camp in December and Konate who suffers from a muscle injury.
Moreover, Calvin Ramsay will be out after undergoing a knee surgery and Arthur Melo who sustained a long-term issue in the build-up to the Champions League fixture with Rangers at Anfield.
However, there are doubts about the participation of Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez, after being forced off just before the hour mark with a painful shoulder problem in the team’s last match against Newcastle United, and Klopp said that he has the chance to be featured, and though he was involved in the team’s Monday’s training session.
Darwin Nunez (Credits to: DAZN)
Head-to-Head Overall:
The two teams have faced each other in 8 games up to today. Among them, Liverpool has won only 2 games, whereas, the Merengues were able to win in 5 games and one game ended equalising.
At Anfield, they’ve played 4 games, Real Madrid won 2 of them, Liverpool 1 and 1 game ended with a drew.
Similarly at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, they’ve played 4 games, the Spanish team won 3 of them and the Reds won only one.
In the last 5 games for Liverpool in different tournaments, Liverpool won 2 games, lost 2 and 1 game ended by a drew. However, Real Madrid in his last 5 games, they’ve won 4, and lost 1 game only.
Expected Lineups:
Liverpool Starting XI:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Bajcetic; Salah, Gakpo, Jota.
Real Madrid Starting XI:
Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Alaba; Ceballos, Camavinga, Modric; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Jr.
Resources:
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