Rival watch: Two Liverpool superstars doubtful for Champions League clash against Real Madrid | OneFootball

Less than a week remains before the big European showdown between Real Madrid and Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League.

Los Blancos dropped three points in their recent UCL game against AC Milan and thus slipped down to 18th place on the standings after four games played.

Their opponents, meanwhile, are the only team on a perfect record in the competition so far and sit on top of the standings with twelve points.

Liverpool will have the home advantage on the night and Real Madrid enter as the slight underdogs given the long injury list. Yet, the Merseyside Kings have their fair share of injuries as well.

Two key players doubtful

As relayed by AS in a recent update, Arne Slot could be without two key stars for the game against Real Madrid next week – Alisson and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The Real Madrid target may not feature next week. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

The Liverpool manager confirmed in his pre-match press conference ahead of the game against Southampton that the goalkeeper was still not training with the team.

“Alisson has returned to training with the goalkeeper coach, not yet with the team, but he is expected to do so soon. Let’s wait to see what state of form he is in for the game,” he said.

The goalkeeper will thus not play this weekend and is a serious doubt for the big game against Real Madrid in what comes as a much-needed boost for the Merengues.

Alexander-Arnold, meanwhile, suffered an injury just before the international break and has still not completely recovered. The manager confirmed that the full-back is also not training with the group and is thus a doubt.

While the double blow for Liverpool will indeed be significant, Real Madrid boast of a much longer injury list with Eder Militao, David Alaba, Rodrygo, Lucas Vazquez, Aurelien Tchouameni and Dani Carvajal all injured.