It's Liverpool vs Real Madrid tonight at the hallowed Anfield ground. The two giants of club football collide in the fifth round of the revamped UEFA Champions League. And there's a lot at stake. Watch Liverpool vs Real Madrid UCL football match live. (More Football News)
Arne Slot's Reds are the only side to have won every match in the Champions League this season, four in four -- beating AC Milan, Bologna, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen.
A win against record UCL champions Los Blancos will help the Premier League leaders leapfrog Barcelona (4 wins and 1 defeat) and fellow unbeaten side Inter Milan (4 wins and 1 draw) to go top of the league phase points table.
Liverpool, the six-time champions, last lifted the "Ol' Big Ears" in 2019 during one of their finest spells in recent memory during Jurgen Klopp's reign. But Slot sure is aware of Liverpool's massive baggage when it comes to Real Madrid fixtures. They lost to La Liga giants in the 2018 and 2022 finals.
"I don't really look at in terms of owing them one or getting revenge. The first final was so important for our journey as no one expected us to get that far, so it gave us belief," Andy Robertson, a Liverpool defender introspected. "In 2022, it hurt a lot more because I thought we played well. Their goalkeeper was Player of the Match, which tells you a lot."
Real Madrid, conversely, are struggling to come to terms this season in the world's biggest club tournament. Carlo Ancelotti's men have lost two of their four matches and need a win to lift them closer to the top eight, which will give them the record 15-time winners an automatic qualification spot for the last 16.
They are languishing at 21st position in the 36-team league table with six points, five adrift from Liverpool. Teams which finished in the 9th-24th bracket will play in the knockout phase playoffs, with the first eight of the lot getting seeds. Play-offs are an alien concept in Los Blancos camp.
"It will be a very entertaining match. These are two historic clubs in the competition, each with their own characteristics," said Ancelotti who invoked Everton. "We will have to see who has the character and the courage to win it on the pitch."
Liverpool vs Real Madrid head-to-head
The clash between two football royalties has seen Real Madrid dominating their English counterparts after losing their first three meetings in European competition (between 1981 and 2009). Liverpool are winless in their eight meetings against Real Madrid since then, a run which included seven defeats.
11 meetings, 7-3 in favour of Real Madrid with one draw. Madrid also lead in goals scored, 17 to 10.
Liverpool vs Real Madrid Predicted Starting XIs
Liverpool: Caoimhin Kelleher; Conor Bradley, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson; Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister; Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, Luis Diaz; Darwin Nunez.
Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois; Federico Valverde, Marco Asencio, Antonio Rudiger, Ferland Mendy; Eduardo Camavinga, Luka Modric; Arda Guler, Jude Bellingham, Brahim Diaz; Kylian Mbappe.
Liverpool vs Real Madrid, UCL 2024-25 - Live Streaming Details
When and where is the Liverpool vs Real Madrid, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 match?
The Liverpool vs Real Madrid, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 match will be played on Thursday, 28 November at Anfield Ground. The match will start at 01:30 am IST.
Where to watch the Liverpool vs Real Madrid, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 match live?
The UEFA Champions League 2024-25 will be aired on the Sony Sports Network on TV. The tournament can be live-streamed on the SonyLiv app and website.
