Liverpool will be out for revenge when they meet Real Madrid in the Champions League last-16 this week in a repeat of last season’s final.

The Reds were denied a seventh European crown when Vinicius Jr struck the winner when the two met in France back in May.

Salah needs one more goal to equal Didier Drogba as the top-scoring African player in the Champions League
AFP

Jurgen Klopp’s side have since endured a difficult season that saw them place second in Group A behind Napoli to set up a reunion with the reigning holders.

But there have been recent signs that Liverpool may have turned a corner, following successive Premier League wins that took them within seven points of the top four with two games in hand.

Madrid, meanwhile, have since added another Club World Cup title to their trophy cabinet but trail Barcelona in the LaLiga standings.

Liverpool v Real Madrid: Date and kick-off time

This Champions League last-16 first-leg tie will take place on Tuesday, February 21.

It is taking place at Anfield and kick-off is at 8pm.

Madrid have strung together a six-game unbeaten streak against Liverpool, which have included two Champions League final wins in both the 2018 and 2022 editions.

Liverpool v Real Madrid: TV channel and live stream

The match will be live on BT Sport 1 with coverage starting at 7pm.

BT Sport subscribers can live stream this match via the app on their computer, mobile and tablet devices.

talkSPORT’s Ian Danter will bring you updates from this match on Kick-Off ‘Around the Grounds’.

talkSPORT.com will also be running a live blog for all the action.

Liverpool fell to defeat when they faced Madrid in Paris
AFP


Liverpool v Real Madrid: Team news

The hosts are sweating on the fitness of Darwin Nunez after he was forced off in their 2-0 win over Newcastle with a shoulder injury.

The Reds are already without a number of players including Luis Diaz, Ibrahima Konate, Thiago Alcantara and Calvin Ramsay.

As for Madrid, Karim Benzema has been included in the travelling squad but both Aurelien Tchouameni and Toni Kroos will miss out.

Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed Dani Carvajal will start but fellow defender Ferland Mendy is still in the treatment room.

Liverpool v Real Madrid: What has been said?

Liverpool’s former Real midfielder Fabinho said: “Champions League nights are always special at Anfield.

“It will be a really big game against Real Madrid and we are sure that our supporters will be behind us and supporting us.

“We just have to follow them, put the intensity [in] and try our best to win the game.”

Real Madrid won the last time the two sides met – in the Champions League final
Getty

Liverpool v Real Madrid: Match facts

  • Alisson has kept 13 clean sheets in 21 UEFA Champions League appearances for Liverpool at Anfield (62%); the most of any goalkeeper in the club’s history. Overall, only Pepe Reina (21) has more total clean sheets than Alisson (19) for Liverpool in the competition. 
  • Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has played 324 minutes in the UEFA Champions League since he last scored (v Man City in May 2022), with the Frenchman failing to find the net in each of his last five appearances in the competition. In the five games prior to this run, he netted 10 times – including two separate hat-tricks (v Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea).
  • Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has scored 43 goals in the UEFA Champions League – if he finds the net in this match, he will equal Didier Drogba (44) as the top-scoring African player in the competition.
  • Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior has been directly involved in seven goals in his last eight away games in the UEFA Champions League (five goals and two assists), with three of those coming in away games against British sides – an assist at Stamford Bridge (v Chelsea) and goals at the Etihad Stadium (v Man City) and Celtic Park (v Celtic).
  • This will be the eighth time that Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has faced Liverpool at Anfield, with the previous seven games producing three wins and three defeats (one draw). Ancelotti won on his most recent trip to Anfield, courtesy of a 2-0 win in charge of Everton in February 2021.
  • After losing their opening match of the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League campaign (1-4 v Napoli), Liverpool have won each of their last five European matches. Only once previously have they had a longer winning run under Jürgen Klopp in the competition, winning seven in a row between September 2021 and February 2022.
  • Real Madrid have only won one of their previous seven away games against English sides in the UEFA Champions League (D2 L4), with that victory coming against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in April 2022.
  • Liverpool are winless in their last six matches against Real Madrid (D1 L5); their longest ever run without a victory against an opponent in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League. 
  • This will be Real Madrid’s fourth trip to Anfield to face Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League. After losing the first one 0-4 in March 2009, they have been unbeaten in the last two trips and not conceded a goal: 3-0 win in October 2014 and 0-0 draw in April 2021.
  • Liverpool won their first three matches against Real Madrid in European competition, between 1981 and 2009. Since then, the Reds are winless in six games against them, with five of those ending in defeat (D1).

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