Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Champions League match.
The marquee clash of the fifth round of the Champions League group stage is set to take place at Anfield. Liverpool are eager to avenge multiple defeats in Europe’s premier competition at the hands of Real Madrid during the Jürgen Klopp era, especially as the Spanish side are grappling with several personnel issues. The visitors need to show resilience, as their position in the group is precarious.
Liverpool
Liverpool stand as the only club in the current Champions League edition to have maintained a perfect record through the first four rounds. Their emphatic victory over Bayer Leverkusen (0:4), with an impressive 3.79 xG and a shot difference of 22-12, showcased the strength of their squad. It's worth noting that Liverpool are managing without Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson Becker, and Diogo Jota, yet they have secured nine wins in ten matches across the Premier League and Champions League since the start of October. Their trip to Southampton (3:2) was not without errors, but Mohamed Salah's brace secured all three points.
Real Madrid
Since October 19th, Real Madrid have seen six consecutive games where the total goals exceeded 2.5, with their recent rout of Leganes (3:0) bringing a much-anticipated goal from Jude Bellingham. However, Vinicius Junior has been sidelined due to injury, which might benefit Kylian Mbappé, who will likely take a favourable position on the right flank, while Endrick Felipe could move into the centre. The Spanish giants have been inconsistent in the Champions League, suffering defeats to Lille (0:1) and AC Milan (1:3), but a win in England could propel them closer to the top-8.
Liverpool vs Real Madrid Prediction
Since October 2014, Liverpool have suffered seven defeats in eight head-to-head fixtures against Real Madrid, including two losses in Champions League finals (1:3 and 0:1). At Anfield, Liverpool will push forward, while the Spaniards will seek to capitalise on counterattacks. Expect at least three goals to be scored in this encounter.
