Liverpool vs Real Madrid: Three key battles to watch out for | OneFootball

After their two wins over Osasuna and Leganes, Real Madrid have a significantly sterner test awaiting them as they visit England to face Liverpool in their upcoming UEFA Champions League game.

In addition to the historical significance of this tie, this game is also very important for the Merengues as they cannot lose any more points in the UCL League Phase if they are to advance to the Round of 16 of the competition, as they have already lost two games, against Lille and AC Milan.

Real Madrid will be without their most potent weapon in attack, as Vinicius Junior is not available for this game after getting injured in the match against Leganes. Still, there is enough quality in both the teams to make it a highly entertaining affair for the spectators.

But there will be three key encounters to keep an eye on in this game:

Kylian Mbappe vs Trent Alexander-Arnold

In Vinicius’ absence, Kylian Mbappe will be able to play in his preferred position on the left wing for this game. Thus, this will be a golden opportunity for the Real Madrid star to prove his worth in his new team, where he has not yet been able to perform up to the standards that are expected from a player of his stature.

After having failed to score for the last several games, the Frenchman was able to break his duck in the match against Leganes, as Vinicius set him up for an easy tap-in for the opening goal. Hopefully, this goal would help Mbappe come into this crunch game with his confidence restored to some extent.

However, the French star might have to face the English star Trent Alexander Arnold in this game, a fullback who has significantly improved his defensive game this season. According to Sofascore, in his 11 Premier League games this season, the Liverpool fullback has been averaging 0.7 interceptions, 2.8 tackles, 3.7 ball recoveries, and 0.9 clearances every game.

Thus, although Alexander Arnold will be looking to move up the field a lot in this match, Mbappe will still have to deal with a highly competent defender, one who has also been on the Merengues’ transfer agenda lately.

Jude Bellingham vs Ryan Gravenberch

Jude Bellingham will be one Real Madrid player who will perhaps be the most eager to put in an eye-catching performance in this game as he will be playing in his home country of England.

Although he is not having a season as good as the last one, he has still been a key player for Carlo Ancelotti, and his output of 2 goals and 4 assists has not been bad either, especially keeping in view the different roles in which the Italian tactician has used him this season.

He has also scored in the last two consecutive games and comes into this game with a significant weight off his shoulders after having ended his scoring drought since the start of the current campaign.

However, against Liverpool, he will have to overcome the challenge of facing Ryan Gravenberch, who has once again found his best form at the English club. The Dutchman is playing at a very high level under his compatriot, Arne Slot, and his defensive numbers make him one of the best players in this Liverpool team.

This season in the Premier League, he is averaging 1.9 interceptions, 1.8 tackles, 5.7 ball recoveries, and 1.1 clearances every game. Thus, Bellingham will have a very competent opponent facing him in this game, and this battle will be a very entertaining one for the spectators.

Mohamed Salah vs Ferland Mendy

Now at 32 years of age, Salah is once again having a very good season with Liverpool under the new manager. This season, he has already scored 10 goals and given 6 assists in his 12 Premier League games, and he still remains as threatening as ever with his speed, dribbling, finishing, and playmaking.

Furthermore, he will be particularly driven to perform against Real Madrid, as this might be his last opportunity to exact revenge after the incident of the UCL final in 2018 when he had to leave the pitch early after an altercation with Sergio Ramos left him unable to continue.

The two teams once again met in the final of the UCL in 2022, but Salah and his team were still unable to win against Real Madrid. Now, with his future at Liverpool looking increasingly uncertain, the Egyptian winger will be particularly keen to inflict as much misery on the Merengues as possible.

In this aspect, he will be helped by the poor form that Carlo Ancelotti’s starting left-back, Ferland Mendy, has displayed this season. The French defender has been unable to convince even with his defensive contribution, while his attacking skills have never been the sharpest.

As a result, Ancelotti started Fran Garcia in the last two games against Osasuna and Leganes. However, for a game as big as this one, and facing a player of Salah’s stature, the Real Madrid coach is likely to return to his more trusted fullback. Hopefully, Mendy will be able to put up a good defensive shift in this game, and make this encounter a highly entertaining one.