Liverpool fans give Real Madrid an EXPLOSIVE welcome to Merseyside | OneFootball

Tonight’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid has becoming the shining example of why the revamped format of the competition was put into place.

A rematch of the 2018 and 2022 Champions League finals has captured the attention of football fans everywhere. Liverpool have a chance to cement their place in the top eight and therefore getting a bye in the next round, whilst also resigning Real Madrid to a difficult situation on just six points from five games.

Because of this, it’s being treated as the high-stakes matchup it is by both teams. Arne Slot and Carlo Ancelotti have both talked about the danger of the other team in the build up, whilst stressing the desire to both rest players for their league campaign whilst really being unable to.

As a result, expect about as full-strength lineups as both teams can manage at Anfield.

Liverpool fans are also treating this game with the respect it deserves. A clip has emerged from @PaulSenior1 on Twitter of fireworks being let off outside the Melia Hotel, where Madrid are reportedly staying (after staying there the last time they played at Anfield in February 2023).

It’s a classic distraction technique. And whilst slightly ruining the quality of the Madrid player’s sleep might not be proven to work - the same happened last time and they ran Liverpool off the park 5-2) - the marginal gains are probably worth a go.

Although we condone Liverpool beating the current holders of the Champions League on the pitch fair and square.

How will Liverpool and Real Madrid line up tonight?

Both teams will be without significant members of their starting XI.

Trent Alexander-Arnold returns to the Liverpool squad but Arne Slot confirmed he isn’t fit to start the match.

Alisson, Diogo Jota and Kostas Tsimikas will all also miss out through their relevant injuries, whilst Federico Chiesa still isn’t in full training.

Real Madrid will be without star man Vinicius Junior who suffered an injury over the weekend. He joins a significant injury list for the club that also features Aurelien Tchouameni, Rodrygo, Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal and David Alaba.

Madrid are in a bit of a rough patch at the moment, trying to establish their identity with new signing Kylian Mbappe at the helm.

Arne Slot has a serious chance to do what Jurgen Klopp never could and beat Los Blancos.