Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 14 games and have yet to achieve anything less than a UEFA Champions League win. Liverpool are at the top of the table with twelve points out of twelve. Wins against AC Milan, Bayer Leverkusen, Bologna and RB Leipzig have propelled the Reds to the only unbeaten record in European competition.

However, their task doesn’t get any easier as current defending champions Real Madrid arrive at Anfield to dethrone the Merseyside Club. Madrid come into this match on the back of a terrible injury accident and some lackluster performances, with rumors of Carlo Ancelotti’s job hanging in the balance. Currently second in La Liga behind bitter rivals Barcelona with a four-point lead, they sit a staggering 18th in the Champions League, having secured just six points from an available twelve.

This match should not be taken lightly as it was made very clear against Southampton that mistakes can be punished. And this Real Madrid team will punish even the smallest mistake.

Liverpool

Arne Slot spoke during the pre-match press conference and confirmed the following absences:

Alisson Becker (Hamstring), Diogo Jota (Ribs), Federico Chiesa (Physical Discomfort), Kostas Tsimikas (Ankle)

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harvey Elliott return to the team, but will not feature in the starting XI

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 getting closer to the starting line-up, Kelleher takes over again, with impressive numbers that were only complemented at the weekend by a brilliant penalty stop, where he was unlucky with the follow-up, and a big save just before the The half-time whistle kept the match level. The Irishman will have to be his best self for this match, Real Madrid have more than enough firepower in his side to punish any mistake.

RB-Conor Bradley: With Trent Alexander-Arnold set to be sidelined for at least this match before returning fit to Manchester City this weekend, the young Northern Irishman will have one of the biggest tasks of the game. Helps to contain Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe. This will be a real test of the young defender’s skills and could be the most important battle 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 most of the defensive duties on that right side. Both Bellingham and Mbappe will favor that side and look to attack his channel, but with the form Konate is in, I would put the house on the Liverpool Frenchman. Before this match, Konate had yet to lose a match against Madrid’s star winger Vinicius Jnr, but with the Brazilian out due to injury, we unfortunately won’t get to see that epic battle.

CB – Virgil van Dijk: The rock at the back, the stone wall of Liverpool’s defense, will be one of the biggest contributors to our success tomorrow night. He will have to keep his backline ridiculously disciplined and have them all at top level because of the attacking power that Real Madrid can deploy. His partnership with Kelleher and Gravenberch will be a key to unlocking the Spanish team’s press and defensive lines.

LB – Andrew Robertson: With Kostas’ injury, Robbo is the man who fills this role. This is the game where we need the old Robertson to return. In the bright lights of a night-time Champions League match at Anfield, we’ve seen the Scottish full-back come to life before. With some very shaky performances in recent weeks and some mental mistakes against Southampton, one of which almost led to a goal, Andy will have 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, this is it. This is the game where Ryan Gravenberch can show that he has really arrived. Facing a midfield of previous Liverpool transfer targets with Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde – albeit at right-back – and of course the forever linked Kylian Mbappé. This is the match where the 22-year-old midfielder can prove himself as the answer to Liverpool’s defensive midfielder problems. And I can’t wait to see it happen.

CDM Alexis Mac Allister: After a long journey home from international duty and not starting in the weekend fixture, I can see Mac Allister being a big part of Liverpool’s midfield tomorrow night. With him and Ryan together I think this midfield can overwhelm 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 this season since his goal against AC Milan in the Champions League earlier this year. The hope is that he has finally found his shooting boots, but the final minutes of the match against Southampton suggest otherwise. As Darwin Nunez looked for a weighted pass to send him through, Dom opted to dribble laterally into the opponent’s penalty area and play it wide of Luis Diaz, ultimately leading to Mo Salah hitting the post and making it nothing came out of it. As an attacking midfielder, it’s shocking not to play that pass. Let’s hope he learns from this mistake and plays that decisive pass when the opportunity presents itself.

RW – Mohamed Salah: The man in charge of the Ballon D’or attack has added just two more goals to his tally this weekend, taking his tally to twenty-two goals in seventeen appearances so far this season. Completely ridiculous numbers for a man who is out of contract at the end of the season. Following his comments after the match against Southampton, it appears that Salah is on a revenge quest, and there is no better team to face in that regard than the same side that robbed him of another two Champions League winners’ medals and deliberately injured him in the process hit. Salah will look 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 in the stats. Pushing the Southampton defenders back, allowing space for the wingers to attack and create chances, pressing hard and forcing mistakes from the Southampton defenders, which ultimately led to the first goal. And he was just a breath away from scoring an assist, with a brilliant square ball for Luis Diaz, but the Colombian was just one step ahead.

LW – Luis Diaz: After returning from international duty, Diaz came into action in the second half against Southampton and brought fantastic energy to the side. Now coming up against out-of-position Valverde, this could be the Colombian’s best time to play. strike, currently Liverpool’s top scorer in the league, he could also be 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. It will be the pressure relief valve. The connection between the front and back lines allows Liverpool to beat Real Madrid’s press. He’ll be his usual self on the defensive side of the ball, but watch his dribbling and passing skills come to life tomorrow night. He already demonstrated his passing skills with a beautifully weighted pass to Mohamed Salah for his first goal of the match at the weekend.

Kylian Mbappe

With both Vinicius Jnr and Rodrygo on the sidelines, the attacking burden will have to fall on the young Frenchman’s shoulders. However, the toughest task awaits him tomorrow night, with Liverpool boasting the best defensive record in Europe’s top five leagues. Only twelve goals were conceded in all competitions and the smallest xG was also conceded. With a central defender in Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, and a goalkeeper in top form in Kelleher. Madrid will have an uphill battle against this Liverpool team.

When? – Wednesday 27 November, 8pm BST

Where? -Anfield

Match official? – 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 win(s), Real Madrid 7 win(s) and 1 draw. Liverpool have odds of 1.83 to win, 3.90 for a draw and 3.90 for Real Madrid to win. According to the bookmakers, Liverpool is the favorite to win the match.