Liverpool in the gravitational pull of Real Madrid

04/11/2025 15:04:00 ceshi

Winning against Real Madrid in last season's qualifying round didn't serve as a breakthrough for Liverpool to advance directly to the Champions League crown, but overcoming this rival this year would signal a new beginning for Arne Slot's squad.

Following consecutive losses in both the Premier League and Champions League, the red team has only calmed down thanks to a crucial victory over Aston Villa last weekend. Yet, the encounter with Real Madrid tonight makes everything more complex.

Liverpool's transformation

There is never an ideal moment to face the "giants" of European football like the Galaxy. Considering the current issues in their playing style, things become even tougher for a frequent Real Madrid victim like The Kop.

Slot had to sacrifice the League Cup to prevent a Premier League defeat. But no sacrifice is worthwhile if failure returns to Anfield tonight. It is noted that Salah’s opening goal against Aston Villa was the 38th shot on target out of 250 attempts Liverpool has had across all competitions this season. Their defense has only managed to keep a clean sheet in one-third of their matches so far.

The Dutch tactician argued that football is about results, as the win over Villa showed his team has done very little to upgrade their current football machine. It did not create more chances in open play than other matches, with goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili delivering an outstanding performance aided by a bit of luck.

The tactical adjustment by dropping Florian Wirtz is notable. Slot placed his trust in the central midfield duo Gravenberch-Mac Allister to strengthen stability and limit gaps in front of center backs Konate and Van Dijk. However, pushing Szoboszlai into Florian Wirtz’s position shows the 47-year-old coach still pursues his current football philosophy. Given the current form of Slot’s players, this structure lacks the quality to dominate or balance the game since Real tends to disrupt opponents’ play through duels in their own half.

If Liverpool truly attack, it will cause significant trouble for themselves. But if they do not, the team has no other way to win and build a solid platform for a turning point in the season.

Salah and his teammates need a victory over Real like last season to turn their campaign around

Real remains unchanged

The Galaxy’s defeat to their rival in last season’s qualifying round was a comprehensive loss, as Carlo Ancelotti struggled to force his star-studded attack to press Liverpool. However, Alonso’s team played completely differently, with higher off-ball intensity and a more solid defense.

“To win titles, you must defend well and keep clean sheets,” Alonso said ahead of the match. The white-clad team has established a new identity, now preferring to dominate, suffocate, and subdue opponents—a stark contrast to the stagnation in Ancelotti’s final season.

Currently, no team in Europe recovers possession more often in the final third than Real. Alonso has also shown willingness to change tactics during and between matches, unlike Ancelotti’s more predictable side. Clearly, Arne Slot will not know how the opponent will approach the game. Most likely, a cautious, compact defensive block with fierce second-line challenges will appear at Anfield, similar to how they played against Barcelona in El Clásico at the Bernabeu.

Real will operate through one-on-one duels, second-ball control, Jude Bellingham’s versatility, Vinicius’s speed, and Mbappe’s sharpness in the opponent’s half to decide the match.

Alonso will also exploit weaknesses in the opponent’s second-line defense, the lack of connection between central midfielders, and manage the game in Liverpool’s half. Although Trent’s return adds a dramatic flair to the story, Mbappe will be the one determining Real’s fate in this match.

Last season, the French striker missed a penalty at Anfield that led to Real’s 0-2 defeat. But now, everything favors the number 10. He has become the Galaxy’s top leader, scoring 18 goals in 14 games across all competitions this season. Additionally, Jude Bellingham’s resurgence is also key to Real’s chances of victory.

Alonso aims to make his return to Anfield an unpleasant day for the hosts and prove that the Real machine can contend for major titles once again.

Comment (0)