Liverpool will face Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Gameweek 5 of the newly formatted League phase. The game scheduled to take place on Wednesday 27th November 2024 is sure to taste the mantle of both sides, with significant outcomes from the result.
Liverpool, in first place in the 2024/25 UCL League Standings, are yet to lose a point in the competition. Defending champions Real Madrid on the other hand, are struggling to find a foothold in the playoff position after two defeats to Lille and AC Milan. The Spanish Champions looked to have recovered from the first defeat in France with a 5-2 win over Borussia Dortmund but were bested by Paulo Fonseca in their backyard.
Liverpool now stands in the forefront to win the encounter and extend their stretch at the top of the standings following the massive injury crisis that has hit the Galacticos in recent weeks. Carlo Ancelotti’s injury problems intensified in their last fixture before the international break. Brazilian winger Rodrygo and Lucas Vazquez sustained muscle injuries that would sideline them for the opening games after the break. To make matters worse for the Italian coach, Brazilian defender Eder Militao got stretched off the pitch in tears after tearing his right ACL just weeks after recovering from a knee injury. The Brazilian will be out of action for the rest of the season.
Their injuries add up to a pile of absentees who are still recovering from fitness setbacks at the Spanish capital. No. 1 choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois sustained a muscle injury earlier this month and is rumored to be back in training. Still, the Belgian stopper will unlikely make the game against the Reds to avoid worsening his situation.
Spain and Madrid captain Dani Carvajal had an early end to the season after undergoing a successful surgery following his ACL tear against Villarreal early this season. Aurelien Tchouameni returned from a muscle injury earlier last month and sprained his ankle in the UCL defeat against AC Milan. The Frenchman is expected to be out until December.
David Alaba has been sidelined with a knee injury since mid-last season and hasn’t played for the Los Blancos since the game with Villareal on December 17, 2023. The Austrian defender is back to light training but may not be ready to compete against Liverpool in the next two weeks.
The injury will mostly affect Real Madrid’s defense and will be a big boost to a Liverpool attack that has been spectacular all season. To mitigate their defense, Real Madrid will have to depend on the likes of Rudiger, Ferland Mendy, Fran Garcia Jesus Vallejo, and academy-promoted Raul Ascensio. Luka Modric and Jude Bellingham would likely be supporting the defense more, making it difficult to aid Real Madrid’s attacks.
Whatever strategy Carlo Ancelotti decides to use is not known. Still, Arne Slot should set up all strategies in place to make sure his side capitalizes on the advantage and inflict more damage to Real Madrid’s title defense this season.
The two giants haven’t faced each other since the 2022/23 Round of 16 encounter that favored the Spanish side. The bad blood between both clubs in the Champions League is dated back to the 1980/81 Finals which Liverpool won. Since then, the duo has met in two more finals in the last decade, with Real Madrid coming out victorious in both (2017/18 UCL finals 3-1, 2021/22 UCL finals 1-0). Since the competition’s inauguration, 15-time winners Real Madrid has the better record on both sides, boasting seven wins in all, compared to Liverpool’s (six-time winners) three wins and a draw between them. Their encounters on the European big stage have seen twenty-seven goals from the competition’s finest players.
With home advantage and player fitness in their side, Liverpool will put up a great display against the competition’s defending champions, seeking to make an early entrance into the competition’s knockout stages.
ARNE SLOT ADDS TWO NEW ADDITIONS TO HIS BACKROOM STAFF
Liverpool’s backroom staff has seen significant changes since the end of last season, with another new addition to their physio team who brings experience from long-term rivals – Manchester City, Celtic, and rugby union.
The last half-year at the AXA Training Centre has been a period of transformation for the Reds. These changes are largely driven by the arrival of Arne Slot as head coach, which has seen an overhaul of various coaching departments at Anfield. The latest recruit is former Limerick hurler David Breen, who won the All-Ireland Championship in 2016. He joins the Reds as a first-team rehab physio.
Breen comes from Premiership rugby side Harlequins and has a connection with goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, having previously worked with the Republic of Ireland men’s national team. The Irishman’s background includes stints with Munster Rugby, Manchester City’s academy, Wasps Rugby, and Leinster Rugby Academy, where he served in various physiotherapy roles.
His former club, Na Piarsaigh, announced the news on X (formerly Twitter), expressing pride in his appointment at Liverpool: “Davy has taken up the role of first-team physio with Liverpool, and we’re all immensely proud in Na Piarsaigh today.”
At 39, Breen will operate under the head of rehab, Lee Nobes. The department had previously welcomed ex-Man United head physio Robin Sadler earlier this season. The Englishman filled the role, which had been vacant and advertised on Liverpool’s official job site in September. He also has 16 years of experience working with Manchester City.
Breen’s arrival is part of a broader behind-the-scenes revamp, which also includes Amit Pannu as the new first-team doctor and Conall Murtagh’s promotion to head of physical performance. Nobes and Chris Morgan have also been appointed as co-heads of rehab and performance.
The team Slot has built also features Ruben Peeters from Feyenoord as lead physical performance coach, Chris Black as lead strength and conditioning coach, and Clare Farrell as head performance nutritionist. Slot is set to further strengthen his staff by adding analyst Roderick van der Ham from Feyenoord, following his farewell to the Dutch club at the start of the international break.
The new additions will hopefully help to mitigate the injury and fitness issues the club has struggled with over the years and add a new layer of competitiveness to Anfield.
WHERE TO GET AVAILABLE LIVERPOOL TICKETS
When it comes to getting covered tickets to Liverpool games, be sure to secure your Liverpool tickets at secondary ticket marketplaces. See seat maps and compare prices to ensure you get the best experience out of each game you attend. Official sites are mostly out of tickets; your best bet to get available and exclusive tickets remains with secondary ticket marketplaces.
The Reds have made massive progress under new boss Arne Slot. They lead the charge both in the domestic League and on the European stage. The internal changes in the staff and player contributions have been on point all season. Fans and well-wishers will now hope the team keeps this momentum in all competitions to secure valuable silverware for Anfield this season. Make sure to get tickets for yourself and your loved ones before they are all sold out, and mark your calendars for the fun ahead. “Never Walk Alone.”
