Liverpool vs Real Madrid Preview and Betting Tip

Round 2 of this heavyweight Liverpool vs Real Madrid Champions League quarter-final clash kicks off at 8.00 pm on Wednesday night. Marco Asensio’s goal ensured we were smiling at the end of the first leg and I have my eye on another goalscorer bet for this game. Liverpool are the favourites to get the win in this second leg at even money. Real Madrid are the underdogs at around 13/5 but they are clear favourites to qualify for the next stage at odds of 1/4 after their 3-1 win in the first leg.

Can Jurgen Klopp’s men produce another memorable European comeback at an empty Anfield? Or will Real become the second Madrid team in as many years to dump Liverpool out of the Champions League? Whatever happens it should be a barnstorming game and you can check out our Liverpool vs Real Madrid preview and betting tip below…

Reds Up Against It

Liverpool have put in some pretty terrible displays this season but the first half against Madrid was as awful as I have seen them. The counter press was non-existent, they couldn’t retain possession and it was the easiest 45 minutes work that Real Madrid could have hoped for. Jurgen Klopp’s men were exposed repeatedly by long diagonal balls in behind Alexander-Arnold and they could be in for more of the same on Wednesday night.

Liverpool’s centre-back pairing of Phillips and Kabak isn’t the quickest partnership around and Vinicius Jr had a field day running at them and Alexander-Arnold. Naby Keita was humiliatingly hooked after 43 minutes by Klopp who clearly wasn’t very impressed by the Guinean’s effort. The introduction of Thiago did marginally improve matters for the Merseysiders in the second half.

Mo Salah grabbed an important away goal to make it 2-1 but Vinicius Jr added a 3rd for the home team thanks to a weak-wristed attempt at a save from Alisson. Real were waltzing through the Liverpool midfield and defence late on and they created a couple of great chances which they wasted. They could easily have added another couple of goals with some better finishing.

Klopp moved Fabinho back into defence late on to try and shore things up. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he starts there on Wednesday night given how badly Kabak and Phillips fared against the pace of Madrid in the first leg. Jurgen Klopp will be hoping Saturday’s last gasp win vs Aston Villa will boost his team’s confidence. However, they’ll have to be a lot better than they were last Tuesday in Madrid if they are to have any hope of making it to the semi-finals.  

Madrid In Pole Position

With Ramos and Varane sidelined, many pundits were predicting a tough night for Real Madrid in the first leg of this Champions League quarter-final. However, Liverpool failed to take full advantage against a makeshift back four of Mendy, Militao, Nacho and Vazquez. This was mostly down to the magnificent performances of Modric, Casemiro and Kroos in the engine room.

Those three rolled back the years with midfield masterclass. Casemiro doggedly broke down Liverpool attacks and protected his back four as if his life depended on it. When he turned the ball over he fed it to Kroos and Modric and they did the rest with some superb long, pinpoint passes that hit The Reds where it hurt most.

Zinedine Zidane’s men targeted the right hand side of Liverpool’s defence and it paid huge dividends. Vinicius jr had Alexander-Arnold on toast all night and his pace caused all sorts of problems. He bagged a brace but on another day he could easily have had a hat-trick.

The worry for Los Meringues is the fact that they had another hugely intense match against Barcelona at the weekend. They came out on top with a 2-1 win but they lost Vazquez to injury and Modric put in another huge shift for 90 minutes. At 35 years old it is hardly ideal playing three big games in the space of eight days. The Croatian magician will need to be at his best again if Real are to get the result they need to progress to the next round.

Liverpool vs Real Madrid H2H

Real Madrid have won their last two meetings with Liverpool by the same 3-1 scoreline. In fact, they have won their last four against the Merseysiders with the hosts’ last win against Madrid coming back in 2009 when Rafa Benitez was in charge. Another 4-0 win like that one would do Liverpool nicely. However, given their current form, it is hard to see that happening.

Vinicius To Make Hay Again

As far as the result goes, this isn’t the easiest game to predict. If Liverpool can get in at half-time without conceding a goal, they have every chance of turning things around. However, if they play like they did in the first half of the first leg, they have no chance. The fact that Real Madrid had another extremely tough match at the weekend gives hope to The Reds.

Real Madrid kept things simple in the opening leg and just focused on exploiting Liverpool’s weaknesses. Zinedine Zidane set his team up perfectly but it was still an incredibly poor performance by the away side, especially in that first half. The Reds are unlikely to be that bad again but the weaknesses at the back still remain. Vinicius Jr will be relishing the prospect of taking on Alexander-Arnold for a second time.

His pace combined with accurate long passing is the key to unlocking the Liverpool defence. You can bet that Kroos and Modric will be looking to get him in behind the Liverpool high line at every opportunity. The young Brazilian showed plenty of composure in front of goal in the first leg and I think he could be in for another big night at Anfield.

Liverpool have to push forward to try and turn this tie around. That will leave even more gaps for the visitors, and especially Vinicius Jr, to exploit at the back. The Brazilian is as big as 3/1 with some firms to score at any time and that is the recommended bet.

Liverpool vs Real Madrid Tips: Vinicius Junior to score at any time @ 3/1 Paddy Power/Betfair

Key Quotes – Liverpool vs Real Madrid

Jurgen Klopp – “’We need a perfect performance on Wednesday if we want to have a chance only – just for a chance. I really think the way we played and the way Real Madrid played there, it doesn’t look very promising. But the good thing is we can play better, that would change the game.”

Zinedine Zidane speaking after the weekend win vs Barcelona – ““We have to rest after today. It’s been two gruelling games. Now we have to rest. I don’t know how we’re going to finish the season. Physically, we’re at our limit.”

Dave Stevos