Liverpool will host Real Madrid in a UEFA Champions League tie at Anfield on Wednesday, eager to build on the win over Aston Villa at the weekend.

Arne Slot and his charges have been quite mediocre in recent weeks, and they have lost four of their last six matches in all competitions. Liverpool will be desperate to put together a winning run now, and a positive result vs Real Madrid would give them a huge confidence boost.

So far, the Reds have picked up two wins from three matches in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League. They will look to pick up their third win of the campaign here. Meanwhile, Real Madrid are in impressive form right now.

Los Blancos have picked up six victories in a row across all competitions, and they have three wins from three Champions League outings as well. They will look to pick up an away win over Liverpool and pile further misery on the Premier League champions. It remains to be seen whether they can come out on top. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.

Team News & Tactics

Liverpool

Arne Slot will be without Alisson Becker (hamstring), Giovanni Leoni (knee), Jeremie Frimpong thigh), and Alexander Isak (groin). Liverpool are likely to shape up in a 4-3-3 formation vs Real Madrid, with Giorgi Mamardashvili in goal.

Conor Bradley and Andrew Robertson will start as the full-backs. They will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch. Meanwhile, Ibrahima Konate will form the central defensive partnership alongside Virgil van Dijk.

As for the midfield unit, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, and Dominik Szoboszlai will start in the middle of the park. They will look to control the game from the deep and add defensive cover.

Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo will start on the flanks here. They will look to add goals and creativity from the wide areas. Hugo Ekitike will spearhead the Liverpool attack vs Real Madrid on Tuesday.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Mamardashvilli, Bradley, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Gakpo; Ekitike

Real Madrid

Antonio Rudiger (hamstring), Dani Carvajal (knee), David Alaba (calf), and Franco Mastantuono (pubic issue) miss out for the away side. Real Madrid will shape up in a 4-3-3 formation vs Liverpool, and Thibaut Courtois will start in goal.

In the full-back areas, Federico Valverde and Alvaro Carreras will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch. They will look to keep things tight defensively and contribute in the final third as well. Eder Militao and Raul Asencio will feature as the central defenders.

Aurelien Tchouameni will start as the defensive midfielder, and he will look to control the game from the deep. Jude Bellingham will add drive and physicality to the side. Arda Guler will also start in the middle of the park, and he add creativity and technical ability.

Brahim Diaz and Vinicius Junior will start on the flanks. The wide duo will look to create opportunities with their pace and flair. Finally, Kylian Mbappe will lead the line for Real Madrid vs Liverpool on Tuesday.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Courtois; Valverde, Militao, Ascencio, Carreras; Bellingham, Tchouameni, Guler; Diaz, Mbappe, Vinicius Junior

Key Stats

• Real Madrid have picked up a win in their last six matches in all competitions.
• Real Madrid have picked up four wins from their last six matches against Liverpool.
• Liverpool have failed to win four of their last six matches in all competitions.
• 15 goals have been scored in the last six matches between these two teams.
• Liverpool have won 20 of their last 22 home UEFA Champions League group stage games (D1 L1), including each of their last 12 in a row. However, three of their seven home group defeats have come versus Spanish sides (one each vs Barcelona, Valencia and Real Madrid).

Player to Watch

Kylian Mbappe

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The French international is in impressive form, and he is our key player to watch out for. Liverpool have been quite vulnerable defensively, and they have struggled at the back in recent weeks. Mbappe could cause all sorts of problems for them with his creativity, goalscoring ability and movement.

Of the 10 players with 50+ goals in European Cup/UEFA Champions League history, Mbappe has the highest percentage scored in away matches (53% – 32/60). The Frenchman netted a hat-trick in his previous away game in the competition (vs Kairat Almaty on Matchday 2), and he now has the joint-most away hat-tricks of any player in European Cup/Champions League history (3, level with Filippo Inzaghi).

Real Madrid will hope that he can step up and produce a strong performance here. The French international will look to score goals and create opportunities for his teammates. He will add unpredictability to the Real Madrid attacking unit, and Liverpool will struggle to keep him quiet.

Prediction

Liverpool 1-2 Real Madrid

Both teams will be desperate for a victory here, and this will be a crunch contest. It remains to be seen who comes out on top. Liverpool will be desperate for a win at home, and the win over Aston Villa will have given them some confidence boost.

However, Real Madrid are in tremendous form, and they are full of confidence and momentum. Both teams are likely to play for a win, and this will be an open contest. The two sides are likely to get on the score sheet, but Real Madrid have more quality, and they should be able to edge this one. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Xabi Alonso and his charges.