All eyes will be on Trent Alexander-Arnold going into Tuesday evening’s Champions League clash between Liverpool and Real Madrid.
The England international returns to his former club for the first time since his summer switch, with the two teams meeting at Anfield (8pm kick-off – live on Amazon Prime).
Three points separate the two sides going into this League format fixture, with Liverpool looking for a repeat of last season’s 2-0 victory over the Spanish giants.
Real Madrid though have won their last six in all competitions ahead of their trip to Merseyside, with just one goal conceded in their first three European games.
Liverpool predicted lineup vs Real Madrid
Liverpool (4-3-3): Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Ekitike, Gakpo.
Liverpool team news vs Real Madrid
Arne Slot looks set to name an unchanged starting XI from the side that got back to winning ways on Saturday, when they beat Aston Villa 2-0.
The Reds boss admits he is still without three key players due to injury, with Alisson Becker, Jeremie Frimpong and Alexander Isak still sidelined.
All three sat out the Villa game and Slot suggested the trio will still be missing when his team head to Manchester City this Sunday.
Curtis Jones is another injury absentee, but Ryan Gravenberch came through the Villa game unscathed after his recent knock.
Summer signings Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez are expected to start on the bench, alongside the likes of Federico Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha.
Slot giving Wirtz time to blossom
One of the big talking points surrounding Liverpool has been the form, or the lack of, £100million summer signing Florian Wirtz.
The former Bayer Leverkusen star has struggled to make an impact and is still looking for his first Liverpool goal, as we head into November.
His manager has taken him out of the firing line in recent weeks, in the hope that the German will respond with some confidence boosting displays off the bench.
Slot has defended Wirtz and the start he has made, saying in the pre-match press conference: “For a player to come from a different league, which is a very good league but the Premier League is a bit more intense so if you look at that, he has played a lot.
“He has had an impact in many games but he has been unlucky with the end product, whether him or other players. He has brought what we expected, a player that can contribute a lot for the team, he will have his goals as well.”
Slot went on to add: “If you’re 22 or 23 and come from a different league you need some time to adapt to the intensity if you play every two or three days.”
