Liverpool Vs Real Madrid: Nostalgic Duel At Anfield, Alonso Ready To Damage Slot Party

Cody Gakpo, ready to appear loose with Liverpool (photo: x @lfc)

JAKARTA - Liverpool and Real Madrid have met again in the Champions League league phase match at Anfield, Tuesday night, November 4 local time. The meeting of the two European giants has almost become a routine in the past decade, but this time there is a special spice: Xabi Alonso, the former Reds midfield general, now comes as coach Los Blancos who is hot.

Liverpool just stopped a streak of bad results in the Premier League after a 2-0 win over Aston Villa last weekend. Arne Slot, who was rumored to have started to lose faith from management and fans, was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief thanks to Mohamed Salah's 250th goal and one lucky goal from Ryan Gravenberch.

The victory is not only important for the standings, but also for the mentality. Previously, the Reds had only won twice from eight matches in all competitions, one of which was when they destroyed Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 in the Champions League. Thanks to that result, Liverpool are now in the top 10 table of the Champions League league, only losing the goal difference from the automatic zone to the last 16.

However, the real test came from Madrid. Alonso's team came with almost perfect capital: 13 wins from 14 matches in all competitions this season, including overthrowing Marseille, Kairat, and Juventus in the Champions League. The only stain is a 2-5 defeat at the derby against Atletico.

Liverpool have broken the curse of eight consecutive defeats to Real last season with a 2-0 win at Anfield. But history is more in favor of the Spanish team. Alonso knows very well that Anfield's atmospheric pressure has lost 0-4 at this stadium while still in charge of Bayer Leverkusen and now he wants to reverse the story of being a conquest in his old home.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid are also leading the La Liga standings after a 4-0 win over Valencia, following a dramatic win at El Clasico against Barcelona. With such a sharp performance, it is difficult for them to judge them as an adapting team.

Team Condition

Liverpool are still crippled in several lines. Alisson Becker (hamstring), Giovanni Leoni (knee injury), and Jeremie Frimpong (hamstring) are confirmed to be absent. Alexander Isak and Curtis Jones still have doubts about appearing due to a groin injury. But Gravenberch is fit and impressed against Villa, while Alexis Mac Allister and Andy Robertson are expected to remain starters.

Slot is believed to be maintaining the same formation, with the dominance of the game in the middle of Szoboszlai and Gakpo supporting Salah in front.

While Real Madrid lost Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger, and David Alaba. Of the three, only Alaba may have a small chance of returning. Interestingly, Alonso has the opportunity to play Trent Alexander-Arnold, a former Liverpool player who is now in Real Madrid uniform after recovering from injury. If not fit enough, the right-back position can be occupied by Federico Valverde again.

Real Madrid still have some internal problems ranging from Vinicius' drama at El Clasico to tension rumors with senior players but the results on the ground remain consistent. While Liverpool are just starting to show signs of getting up, their performance is not yet stable enough to face Alonso's winning machine.

This match is not only a duel for two big clubs, but also a story about a former hero who returns to Anfield not to reminisce about the past, but to write a new history

Estimated line-up

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.

Final prediction: Liverpool 1-2 Real Madrid.