UEFA Champions League Preview: Liverpool vs. Real Madrid

A huge match awaits tonight when these two giants meet, a game between two of the most successful teams in the history of the Champions League. Real Madrid have won the tournament 14 times while Liverpool have lifted the trophy 6 times and they have met in the final twice in the last 6 years, both times with Madrid winning.

Both teams have struggled with form this season, and it doesn't look like they have any chance of success in the domestic leagues, therefore the UCL is the last chance for both teams to win a major trophy this season.

Liverpool’s Champions League form:
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Liverpool’s form in all competitions: 
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Real Madrid’s Champions League form:
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Real Madrid’s form in all competitions: 
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Team news

Liverpool's many injuries are slowly starting to come back, and for tonight's game you only have to do without Luis Diaz, Ibrahim Konate, Thiago and Calvin Ramsey.
Liverpool fans are holding their breath after Nunez left the match against Newcastle with a shoulder problem, and it is not yet known if he is ready to participate in the match, a huge loss for Liverpool if they have to do without Nunez.

Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino are still some way from their top form after their injuries, but it must give the reds a boost to have two profiles on the bench again.

Liverpool’s expected lineup: 
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Bajcetic, Fabinho, Henderson; Salah, Gakpo, Nunez

Ferland Mendy, Mariana Diaz are both out with injuries while Tchouameni and Toni Kroos are out with illness, two big profiles in the midfield you have to do without for this match.
Benzema was not involved in the weekend's match, but Ancelotti has stated in the media that the Frenchman is ready to start the match at Anfield.

Real Madrid’s expected lineup: 
Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Alaba; Ceballos, Camavinga, Modric; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Jr

Key stats 
-    Real Madrid have won 5 of the latest 6 matches against Liverpool
-    Liverpool have won their 5 latest ucl games
-    Mo Salah can become Liverpool’s all-time UCL goal scorer
-    Real Madrid have a clean sheet against Liverpool in their last 3 away matches

Player profiles 

Cody Gakpo looks like a man who is getting used to Liverpool's style of play and with goals in the last two games, the Dutchman's confidence is high.
We think it will be a close game, where it will be the margins that will decide the game, and we think that Gakpo must be the man who must make the difference if Liverpool is to have a victory.

With Kroos and Tchouameni out, Modric must step up his game. You know how great a leader and player Modric is, so we think you will see a Croatian who delivers a top performance in tonight's match.

Prediction 
Over 2 matches, we have Real Madrid as slight favorites to progress, but here in the first match we expect it to be very close where the margins will decide the match.
The marginals in this match can most likely be Anfield, you know there is something special about European evenings at Anfield and we expect Liverpool to come out highly motivated with two wins behind them and the chance to give their fans a good experience.
We therefore believe that Liverpool will take a small victory of 2-1 with them to the second leg in Madrid.