Whilst their new Champions League format came under criticism when it was announced, the anticipation for a repeat of the 2018 and 2022 Champions League finals in the competition’s initial stage is unlike anything seen in the former group stage.
And whilst Liverpool are in a position where a negative result wouldn’t have disastrous consequences, it is still an opportunity to make a statement against a Real Madrid side that have seemed ‘inevitable’ for a decade now.
In his pre-match press conference, head coach Arne Slot has confirmed that Liverpool will have two players available to them who weren’t available recently.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harvey Elliott
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harvey Elliott could feature against Real Madrid
The anticipation was that Alexander-Arnold would be available for this game but, with Manchester City coming up at the weekend. Slot confirmed that he is in the squad but will not be starting the game, available to make a substitute appearance if necessary.
It would be Trent’s return to the squad following the hamstring issue suffered against Aston Villa that kept him out of the England squad over the international break
Similarly Harvey Elliott will be in the squad but, due to a lack of match fitness, isn’t ready to start.
Elliott returned to the Liverpool bench for the first time since the visit to Old Trafford at the start of September this past weekend against Southampton. It marked his return to the matchday squad after suffering a broken ankle on England under-21 duty.
In other squad news, Arne Slot confirmed that Federico Chiesa is still in partial training with the squad, but still not the whole session. This comes amid speculation that the Italian could be eyeing up a loan move back to Italy in January.
Meanwhile, Alisson and Diogo Jota have been joined on the sidelines by Kostas Tsimikas who unexpectedly suffered an ankle injury in training.
