Real Madrid vs Liverpool Preview and Betting Tip

Unfortunately Arsenal didn’t show up against Liverpool on Saturday and they were hammered 3-0. They sacrificed all attacking intent to defend in a low block and with no out ball when they did win back possession, it was a matter of time before Liverpool got the breakthrough. It was The Reds’ third win and third clean sheet in a row and how they would love a similar result on Tuesday night in the Champions League. Real Madrid vs Liverpool kicks off at 8pm in a repeat of the 2018 final. Hopefully the Spaniards show more ambition than The Gunners did. If they do, we should be in for an exciting night.

Madrid Hitting Top Gear

Real Madrid were rocked by the news last week that Sergio Ramos would miss this match. The talismanic centre-back may be 35 years old now but he remains a vital cog in the Real Madrid machine. Ramos has a history with Liverpool too. He took Salah out of the game when these teams last met in the final of this competition a couple of years ago and he is public enemy no.1 on Merseyside.

The absence of Ramos means that Zidane will likely play four at the back. Varane, rested for the weekend win vs Eibar, will likely line up alongside Nacho at centre back. Vazquez and Mendy will start on the flanks with a midfield three of Modric, Kroos and Casemiro. Benzema and Asensio have both been scoring goals recently and they look like probable starters. Vinicius and Isco will fight it out for the final starting spot.

The Real Madrid first eleven is quality but they lack strength in depth. The midfield trio of Modric, Kroos and Casemiro are top class players but they are no spring chickens. Unless Madrid can keep the ball and dominate possession, they might struggle to contain Liverpool’s energetic midfield. However, Benzema will be hoping that he can make hay against Kabak and Phillips and if Vinicius starts out wide his pace will be a worry for Liverpool too.

Resurgent Reds

I thought Jurgen Klopp would rest players on Saturday vs Arsenal but I was wrong. Even Robertson, who played 3 full matches during the international break, started and he played for a full hour before being taken off. I think his decision was possibly influenced by Chelsea’s shock defeat against West Brom. That left the Top 4 door ajar for Liverpool and Klopp’s men made no mistake, destroying a dreadful Arsenal team 3-0.

Liverpool are starting to look like a proper side again since Klopp decided to bite the bullet and move Fabinho back into midfield. His influence in the engine room cannot be underestimated. Not only is he good on the ball, more importantly he shields the defence brilliantly. It begs the question, why did Klopp persist with playing him as a makeshift centre-back for so long? The probable reason for that is that he didn’t trust the only fit central defenders that he had.  

However, Phillips and Kabak have looked decent together since coming into the team, though their lack of pace is something that Madrid will try to exploit. The worry for Liverpool is the form of their front three. Yes, Salah is still scoring but Firmino, and especially Mane, have been nowhere near the levels they have formerly reached. One of those two may have to make way for in-form Diogo Jota on Tuesday. He has proved to be a shrewd addition and he got the crucial opening goal vs Arsenal on Saturday.  

Real Madrid vs Liverpool Recent Results

Both teams come into this match in winning form and full of confidence. Real Madrid have won their last four in a row and they remain unbeaten in their last 11 matches (W9 D2). Real were victorious against a useful Atalanta outfit in the last round, beating them 4-1 on aggregate. Liverpool have now notched up three successive wins and clean sheets. They knocked a poor RB Leipzig out in the last stage of the Champions League, hammering them 4-0 on aggregate.

The worry for Real Madrid fans is their rocky recent home record in the Champions League. They won their last three on their own patch but in the last couple of years Shakhtar, Man City, CSKA Moscow and Ajax have all won at the Bernabeu. Unless they are at their best on Tuesday night, Liverpool could be the next team to make it onto that list.

Asensio Anytime The value

I think this is a really tough match to call. Both teams are strong offensively but both are missing key players at the back. It looks like a game that should produce goals and in form Marco Asensio looks value to score at anytime at odds of 17/4 with Betway.

The Spanish attacker has netted three goals in Real Madrid’s last three games, including the opener at the weekend vs Eibar. He was taken off after an hour in that game which suggests he is likely to start tonight. Benzema has been banging in the goals too recently, but he is a lot shorter in the betting. Asensio definitely represents more value at 17/4 and he is the recommended bet.  

Real Madrid vs Liverpool Tips: Marco Asensio to score at anytime @ 17/4 Betway

Key Quotes – Real Madrid vs Liverpool

Zinedine Zidane – “My team has been underrated but I believe in them and know what they can do. Whenever there are still signs of life, we never give up. We’re going to keep on fighting for everything, we’ve had some very difficult moments this season. We’re much better now but we still haven’t achieved anything.”

Jurgen Klopp – “We are not on a revenge tour here. Life is like this, you try everything to win a game, you lose it and then you meet your opponent again one day. Sometimes it’s close enough and you can meet a week or two later and have this kind of emotion still in you. I don’t believe too much in revenge but it would be nice to get through against Real Madrid.”

Dave Stevos