Just before heading to Anfield, Real Madrid received some unexpected bad news. Franco Mastantuono, who had been set to play against Liverpool tonight, will not be available. The club’s medical team has confirmed that the Argentine midfielder is suffering from a “sports hernia.” Spanish media outlet Marca has reported that the return date for Mastantuono is still uncertain, but it has been confirmed that he will not feature in tonight’s match.
Mastantuono was also absent from yesterday’s training session. Typically, Real Madrid holds a training session on the day before a match at the opposition’s ground. However, this time, coach Xabi Alonso took a different approach. Without revealing his tactical plans to the media at Anfield, Alonso opted to conduct the final session at the club’s own training ground, Valdebebas. According to Marca’s analysis, this decision was likely made to prevent the opposition from deciphering any tactical clues in the last moments before the match.
Real Madrid’s current form is undeniable. Just two nights ago, they triumphed 4-0 over Valencia in La Liga. That victory marked their 13th win in 14 matches across all competitions this season, with only one defeat, which came in the league. It is their second-best start in 126 years of history, with only the 1961-62 season surpassing their current run.
With this impressive form, Alonso’s team heads to Anfield, which is not particularly comforting for Liverpool. Although they secured a 2-0 win against Aston Villa in the Premier League last Sunday, Jurgen Klopp’s side had struggled in the previous month, losing five out of six matches across all competitions. Their only win came in the Champions League against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Liverpool’s recent history against Real Madrid is also not in their favour. Last year, they managed to win 2-0 at Anfield, but that was their first win against the Spanish giants in the Champions League since 2009. In the eight encounters between the two sides since then, Liverpool has suffered seven defeats and one draw.
This upcoming match, however, is more than just a rivalry; it marks a reunion as well. Trent Alexander-Arnold, who joined Real Madrid after leaving Liverpool, returns to his former ground for the first time. Rising from the youth ranks at Anfield, he has won two Premier League titles and a Champions League with the club. His huge mural still hangs on one side of the stadium, inscribed with the words: “I am just a regular boy from Liverpool whose dream came true.”
However, Real Madrid’s acquisition of Trent did not come at a significant cost to Liverpool—once his contract expired, they let him go for just one million euros. Therefore, Trent’s return may not be entirely emotional. Still, he remains fond of his former club, saying, “Whatever happens, my love for Liverpool will never change. The memories I have from there will stay with me for life. Whatever kind of reception I get, it won’t change anything.”
The 27-year-old English player also confirmed that he will not celebrate should he score in tonight’s game. He shared that his old friends from Liverpool, including Robertson, Mo Salah, and Ibrahima Konaté, had sent him messages after the draw, and they had a laugh together.
For Xabi Alonso, Anfield holds its own set of memories. From 2004 to 2009, he was the “brain” of Liverpool’s midfield, winning both the Champions League and the FA Cup during his time at the club.
There are also some records within reach for Liverpool in this match. If they score just two more goals, they will reach 500 goals in Europe’s top competition. For Mohamed Salah, it could be a landmark night as well—tonight marks his 200th match at Anfield, and if he scores two goals, he will become the first African player to reach 50 goals in the Champions League.
However, it won’t be easy. Real Madrid has scored 34 goals this season while conceding only 11, with just one goal conceded in the Champions League. Alonso is cautious, noting, “To win titles, we must be solid defensively. We’ll need plenty of clean sheets.”
Liverpool’s defence, on the other hand, has been less solid. While they have scored 30 goals in 16 matches, they have conceded 24. In contrast, Kylian Mbappé, who has scored 18 goals in 14 matches for Real Madrid, is in excellent form.
There are some uncertainties surrounding both teams, though. Trent is not fully fit yet, and it remains unclear whether he will play. Real Madrid’s Dani Carvajal is also injured and missed the game against Valencia. He is unlikely to feature today, meaning that Federico Valverde may start at right-back, while the central defensive pairing could be Éder Militão and David Alaba.