Three talking points ahead of Liverpool vs Real Madrid | UEFA Champions League | OneFootball

Real Madrid returned after the international break with a 3-0 win over Leganes in La Liga with Vinicius Jr, Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham starring on the night.

The team did not have long to celebrate the win, though, as all eyes have been on the midweek game against Liverpool.

Later tonight, Carlo Ancelotti’s men take to the field at Anfield in what will be their toughest UEFA Champions League clash yet and a lot rides on the result that will unfold against Liverpool.

With the likes of Atalanta, RB Salzburg and Brest yet to come in the UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid are walking a tightrope and cannot afford to lose against Arne Slot’s men.

The signs shown at the weekend gave hope that the team is slowly finding its best footing, but it remains to be seen if they are up to the task of dismantling one of Europe’s best teams at the moment.

Madrid Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Liverpool vs Real Madrid.

Two big developments on the left flank

Vinicius Jr. will be absent against Liverpool. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

There is no place to start discussing the preview for Real Madrid’s game at Anfield than the injury of Vinicius Jr which could not have come at a worse time.

Earlier this week, the club confirmed that the Brazilian had suffered a muscular injury and that he would be out for at least three weeks as it stands.

For the star player to be out just before the biggest game of the season comes as a massive blow to Carlo Ancelotti’s plans, especially given how he has been critical for the team in the final third all season.

With Vinicius unavailable on the night, all signs point to Kylian Mbappe taking over the role on the left wing against Liverpool and the Frenchman must shoulder more responsibility than before for the big game.

Apart from the Brazilian’s setback, however, there is another critical development on the same flank, albeit from Liverpool’s camp.

Real Madrid target Trent Alexander-Arnold was a doubt for Wednesday’s clash earlier this week after not completely recovering from his muscular injury. Now, however, the player has been declared fit in a big boost to Arne Slot’s dynamics.

Los Blancos will thus be without the services of their main left-winger but the Merseyside giants will have their defender up for the task at Anfield and the initial signs look worrying for Ancelotti’s men.

An opponent in imperious form

Liverpool are in excellent form. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Liverpool have made a stunning start to life under Arne Slot and have dominated the field across all departments in every game that they have played so far.

In the Premier League, the Reds have won 10 of their 12 games, losing and drawing one each. They sit comfortably on top of the table with a whopping eight points lead and have scored 24 goals, conceding just eight.

In the UEFA Champions League, they are currently on a perfect run of four wins in as many games and have scored ten goals in that process, conceding just one.

It is thus safe to say that Real Madrid are locking horns with one of Europe’s most in-form teams later tonight and that they are, in fact, slight underdogs.

Liverpool’s defence has been solid all season with Ibrahima Konate and Virgil Van Dijk playing in fine touch. With Trent and Andy Robertson playing on the flanks, moreover, their defence is only potentiated.

The midfield trio of Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis MacAllister have found fine cohesion under Slot and have dominated the midfield well, connecting to the forwards who have been in heavenly touch.

The biggest challenge for Los Blancos, thus, will be defending with the makeshift defence against the likes of Mohammed Salah, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo who offer attacking threats from every direction.

More than just three points

This will be an important game for Real Madrid. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

Real Madrid have won just two of their four UEFA Champions League games so far this season and the losses against AC Milan and Lille have significantly hurt the team’s position on the table.

Ahead of kickoff, Los Blancos are provisionally outside the top 20 and are playing against a team on a perfect record.

The result on Wednesday night will have a massive implication on their chances of qualification to the next round and whether or not they will have to go through a play-off.

Should Real Madrid lose tomorrow, they will move to six points after five games. With only three matches remaining, the highest possible tally for them will be 15 points and that will certainly be insufficient for them to progress directly to the top-8.

Given the already hectic calendar, the Merengues must push until the end to secure direct qualification. Their current position does not give them any room for a slip-up, and the game against Liverpool is thus more than just three points on the table.