Liverpool vs Real Madrid: Preview, Team News, Time and Where to Watch Clash of Titans

Two European giants, Liverpool and Real Madrid, are set to renew their storied rivalry on Tuesday as they clash in a highly anticipated Champions League league-phase match at Anfield.

The Reds enter the contest with renewed confidence after a crucial 2-0 Premier League victory over Aston Villa on Saturday, a result that snapped a worrying run of poor domestic form.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid, under the guidance of former Liverpool hero Xabi Alonso, have been in formidable shape, establishing themselves as a dominant force both at home and abroad.

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After a string of disappointing results, the pressure was mounting on Liverpool manager Arne Slot. A 2-0 win against Aston Villa provided much-needed relief, preventing what would have been the club's fifth consecutive league defeat.

Goals from Mohamed Salah—his 250th for the club—and a deflected strike from Ryan Gravenberch secured the vital three points.

While Villa contributed to their own demise, Liverpool's performance was a marked improvement, showing renewed energy and cohesion. The victory was only their second in eight matches across all competitions.

Their other recent success came in Europe, a commanding 5-1 demolition of Eintracht Frankfurt that propelled them into the top 10 of the Champions League league-phase standings, just outside the automatic qualification spots on goal difference.

Liverpool's home form in Europe has been a fortress. Their 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid earlier in the campaign marked their 15th consecutive win in European group or league-phase matches at Anfield. Fans will also draw confidence from their last home encounter with Real Madrid, a 2-0 win that ended a frustrating eight-game winless streak against the Spanish champions.

Xabi Alonso, who enjoyed a decorated career at Anfield, returns as the manager of a Real Madrid side in blistering form. Los Blancos have been nearly flawless this season, winning 13 of their 14 matches. Their only blemish was a surprising 5-2 derby loss to Atletico Madrid.

In the Champions League, Real Madrid hold a perfect record with victories over Marseille, Kairat, and Juventus. Despite their nine points, they sit fifth among the undefeated teams due to a slightly inferior goal difference compared to PSG, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, and Arsenal.

Following a dramatic El Clasico win, they warmed up for their trip to Merseyside with a 4-0 thrashing of Valencia. While Real have won just two of their last nine competitive fixtures against English opposition, their pedigree in this competition means they can never be underestimated.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot was boosted by the return of Ryan Gravenberch against Aston Villa. However, Alexander Isak remains sidelined with a groin issue, and he joins Alisson Becker (hamstring), Giovanni Leoni (ACL), and Jeremie Frimpong (hamstring) on the injury list. Curtis Jones has returned to training and could be in contention.

Given the positive result at the weekend, Slot is unlikely to make wholesale changes. The decision to rest Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez paid off, and key players like Alexis Mac Allister and Andy Robertson are expected to retain their starting spots.

For Real Madrid, Xabi Alonso faces a defensive headache. The visitors will be without the experienced trio of Dani Carvajal (knee), Antonio Rudiger (muscle), and David Alaba (calf). Young forward Franco Mastantuono is also out with a pubalgia injury. Carvajal's absence opens the door for former Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold to potentially start upon his return to Anfield.

Alexander-Arnold's fitness remains a significant question mark for Real Madrid ahead of their upcoming clash. The right-back has yet to feature since recovering from a hamstring injury, remaining on the bench for the last two La Liga matches. Should manager Xabi Alonso deem him not ready, Federico Valverde could once again be deployed in a defensive role.

The match will kick off at 11pm Kenyan time and will be live on SuperSport TV.

Liverpool: Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitike

Real Madrid: Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Militao, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Tchouameni; Guler, Bellingham, Vinicius Jr; Mbappe