MX23RW : Sunday, November 24 08:14:03| >> :120:30403:30403:
[monks data]
Liverpool logo
Champions League | Round of 16 | 1st Leg
Feb 21, 2023 at 8pm UK
Anfield
Real Madrid logo

Liverpool
2 - 5
Real Madrid

Nunez (4'), Salah (14')
Elliott (90+3')
FT(HT: 2-2)
Junior (21', 36'), Militao (47'), Benzema (55', 67')
Junior (60')

How Real Madrid could line up against Liverpool

How Real Madrid could line up against Liverpool
© Reuters
Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Real Madrid could line up for Tuesday's Champions League last-16 first leg against Liverpool.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is expecting Karim Benzema to be fit for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday.

The 2022 Ballon d'Or winner was left out of the squad for Saturday's La Liga win over Osasuna due to muscular fatigue, but he is not thought to be carrying a serious injury and was only absent for precautionary reasons.

Benzema should therefore return to the final third and take his rightful place at the tip of the attack over Rodrygo, while Mariano Diaz is out with an unspecified injury but would have never started anyway.

Federico Valverde has developed a taste for goals this season - scoring his 12th of the season on Saturday night - and he should link up with Benzema and Vinicius Junior, who netted the winner against Liverpool in last year's Champions League final.

However, midfield is where the bulk of Ancelotti's selection concerns lie, as Toni Kroos and Aurelien Tchouameni both missed the win over Osasuna due to illness, and neither man has made the squad here.

While Valverde could be utilised in a deeper role, Dani Ceballos has stepped up to the plate in recent weeks, and the ex-Arsenal loanee can feel hopeful of joining Eduardo Camavinga and Luka Modric in the engine room.

With left-back Ferland Mendy facing several more weeks out with a thigh issue, David Alaba should line up on that side, while Dani Carvajal is confirmed to be starting over Nacho Fernandez on the right flank.

Thibaut Courtois - who made nine saves in last year's final - had struggled with a hamstring injury prior to the weekend, but he was passed fit to start against Osasuna and ought to be protected by Antonio Rudiger and Eder Militao at Anfield.

Real Madrid possible starting lineup: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Alaba; Ceballos, Camavinga, Modric; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Jr

> Click here to see how Liverpool could line up for the first leg

ID:507056:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect4278:No Data Analysis info
Game History

How you voted: Liverpool vs Real Madrid

Liverpool
37.7%
Draw
15.8%
Real Madrid
46.5%
1086
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Karim Benzema in action for Real Madrid on October 5, 2022
Read Next:
Ancelotti provides team news update ahead of Liverpool trip
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Vikings
@
Bears
6pm
Lions
@
Colts
6pm
Patriots
@
Dolphins
6pm
Buccaneers
@
Giants
6pm
Chiefs
@
Panthers
6pm
Titans
@
Texans
6pm
Cowboys
@
Washington
9.05pm
Broncos
@
Raiders
9.25pm
49ers
@
Packers
9.25pm
Cardinals
@
Seahawks
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Liverpool440012
2Sporting Lisbon431010
3Brest431010
4Inter Milan431010
5Monaco431010
6Barcelona43019
7Dortmund43019
8Aston Villa43019
9Atalanta42208
10Juventus42117
11Lille42117
12Man City42117
13Arsenal42117
14B. Leverkusen42117
15Celtic42117
16Dinamo Zagreb42117
17AC Milan42026
18Bayern42026
19Benfica42026
20Feyenoord42026
21Real Madrid42026
22Brugge42026
23Atletico42026
24PSV41215
25Sparta Prague41124
26Stuttgart41124
27PSG41124
28Shakhtar41124
29Girona41033
30Salzburg41033
31Bologna40131
32RB Leipzig40040
33Sturm Graz40040
34Young Boys40040
35Red Star40040
36Slovan Bratislava40040


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!