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The headliner of Matchday 5 of the UEFA Champions League takes place in England on Wednesday, where top-flight Liverpool will take on reigning champions Real Madrid in a match that will serve as a benchmark for their current position.
Liverpool’s near-perfect start under new manager Arne Slot means they enter matchday 5 at the top of the table, the only side with 12 out of 12 points. It is in stark contrast to Real Madrid, who started the season with great expectations after winning their fifteenth Champions League title and signing Kylian Mbappé, but who are on the outside looking in at the top eight. They have recorded two wins and two defeats in the league stage so far, leaving them in 18th place to start the week, but within touching distance of the top eight.
Here’s what you need to know before you tune in.
How to watch and odds
- Date: Wednesday November 27 | Time: 3:00 PM ET
- Location: Anfield-Liverpool, England
- Watch: Biggest+
- Chances: Liverpool-120; Sign +290; Real Madrid +290
Storylines
Liverpool: Things are going so well for Liverpool under new management so far. Slot has turned them into a defensive first team, conceding just one goal in the Champions League so far and just eight in the Premier League this season. That strategy faced a surprise challenge last weekend as the Reds won 3-2 at last-place Southampton on Sunday, although their goal-scoring ability remains a strength. Although the number of shots they take is down dramatically from last season, their high-powered offense was able to save them just as well as it has in recent years. That includes Mohamed Salah, who scored one goal in that win and now has 12 goals and 10 assists in all competitions this season.
However, Salah’s future has become a major focus in Wednesday’s match against Real Madrid. While the 32-year-old is still an impressive contributor, his productivity is starting to slow as he ages. He suggested his time at Anfield may be over when his contract expires in the summer. Slot did his best to calm things down ahead of Wednesday’s match, insisting Salah’s comments were not a distraction and admitting: “When I look at my line-up, Mo is more in than out!”
The Egypt international is likely to play a big role in the match, while Trent Alexander-Arnold is not fit to start but could come off the bench. However, other notable players such as Alisson and Diogo Jota will be unavailable due to injuries.
Real Madrid: The sense of inevitable victory that defined their triumphs last season has eluded them a handful of times so far this season, even as they amass an all-star attack that now includes Mbappe. The imbalance they clearly defied last season is now costing them, as evidenced by the fact that they have losses to Lille and AC Milan on their Champions League record so far this season.
This imbalance is illustrated by Mbappé’s inability to fully integrate himself into his new team, most notably in Madrid’s 3–1 defeat to Milan on Matchday 4. A series of injuries over the course of the season has also complicated matters for the reigning European champion. , most recently seeing Vinicius Junior end up on the sidelines. He suffered a brief hamstring injury that will keep him out of Wednesday’s trip to Liverpool, although it could make it easier for Mbappe to finally make a statement in a Madrid shirt.
Projected setups
Liverpool: Kelleher, Bradley, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson, Jones, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Salah, Diaz, Gakpo
Real Madrid: Courtois, Vazquez, Asencio, Rudiger, Mendy, Valverde, Camavinga, Ceballos, Bellingham, Guler, Mbappe
Prediction
Liverpool’s new tactical approach will serve them well for a number of reasons, not least because their defensive strategy could be enough to quell a somewhat wasteful Real Madrid attack. Expect the hosts to gain the upper hand over the imperfect European champions and add another statement victory to Slot’s growing collection of them. Choose: Liverpool2, Real Madrid1