Anfield is poised for a hostile evening as Trent Alexander-Arnold returns with Real Madrid in the Champions League, the fifth time the two clubs have met in the last six seasons.
Liverpool vs. Real Madrid
Champions League (4) | Anfield
November 4, 2025 | 8pm (GMT)
Liverpool finally got a much-needed win in the Premier League over the weekend, lifting the doom and gloom somewhat ahead of another huge two fixtures.
First up is the visit of Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid, who arrive in formidable form – but Anfield will be ready.
Here is all you need to know ahead of Tuesday’s kickoff.
1. Jones IN, Isak still OUT
Alexander Isak and Curtis Jones have missed the last three and two games respectively, but only the midfielder returned to training on the eve of the clash.
Jones will be in contention for a place in the squad but Isak’s continued absence, now stretching to four matches, will mean Hugo Ekitike continues to lead the line.
Arne Slot also ruled the No. 9 out of a start against Man City on Sunday, but said he can “maybe” be involved in the matchday squad.
Thankfully, every player involved over the weekend was in training on Monday afternoon.
Alisson and Jeremie Frimpong both remain sidelined with respective hamstring injuries and will not return until after the international break.
2. Trent Alexander-Arnold in 22-man squad
Real Madrid's new signing soccer player Trent Alexander-Arnold arrives for a press conference during his official presentation at Real Madrid's Valdebebas training ground in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Alexander-Arnold has not played competitively since September 13 due to a hamstring injury, but has been an unused substitute in Real’s last two games.
The 27-year-old is unlikely to start at Anfield, with the right-back spot likely to go to Federico Valverde, but he has been named in their travelling squad.
Nevertheless, he will get quite the hostile reception at Anfield, whether he gets on the pitch or not, after the manner of his exit in the summer – though you could argue apathy is the best option of all.
Dani Carvajal (knee), Franco Mastantuono (pubalgia), Antonio Rudiger (muscle) and David Alaba (calf) are all sidelined.
• READ: Real Madrid name 22-man squad vs. Liverpool – Trent included, 4 key absences
Possible Real XI: Courtois; Valverde, Militao, Huijsen, Carreras; Tchouameni; Bellingham, Camavinga, Guler, Vinicius Jr; Mbappe
3. Real Madrid have won 13 of last 14
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Tuesday, February 11, 2025: Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé (L) celebrates after scoring the first equalising goal during the UEFA Champions League Knockout phase play-off 1st Leg match between Manchester City FC and Real Madrid CF at the City of Manchester Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Real Madrid, under new manager Alonso, have started the season with an impressive string of results, winning 13 of their 14 matches across all competitions.
Only Atletico Madrid have consigned Los Blancos to defeat this campaign with an impressive 5-2 victory at the end of September.
Quite the contrast to Liverpool!
And Kylian Mbappe is the man in form, scoring 18 goals and notching two assists across his 14 appearances – that accounts for 58.8 percent of the Spanish side’s goals this season.
Conor Bradley, you know what to do.
4. 2 changes for Liverpool?
There is certainly an argument for Slot to name an unchanged lineup for only the third time this season, but Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz will have something to say about that.
The duo were both named on the bench over the weekend, with only the latter making a late appearance.
Andy Robertson and Alexis Mac Allister would both make way after starting the last two games and playing the full 90 minutes against Villa.
The team otherwise picks itself with Alisson, Frimpong and Isak unavailable, in addition to Jones only marking his training return on the eve of the fixture.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
5. Press conference
Speaking ahead of the match, Slot insisted that Sunday’s trip to Man City will have no bearing on his selection against Real Madrid:
“Sunday’s game is not in my thinking when it comes to the lineup for tomorrow because there are four days in between.
“There are a lot of moments this season where there was only two days in between, like tomorrow.
“But maybe for the first time this season, for the opponent we face, it is the same. Many other times when we only had two days rest, we faced a team that had a week or four days rest.
“The lineup tomorrow will not have anything to do with what happens on Sunday.”
6. Conor Bradley still walking suspension tightrope
FRANKFURT, GERMANY - Wednesday, October 22, 2025: Liverpool's Conor Bradley applauds the supporters after the UEFA Champions League match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Liverpool FC at the Waldstadion. Liverpool won 5-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
For the second Champions League game running, Bradley will know he will miss the next European fixture, against PSV later this month, if he is shown a yellow card during this match.
The full-back has already picked up two yellow cards in the competition, against Atletico Madrid and Galatasaray, and another will lead to a one-match ban.
Players are suspended in the Champions League after three cautions that did not result in a red card, and any subsequent odd-numbered yellow card (fifth, seventh, etc.).
He is the sole player one caution away from suspension, with Jones and Gravenberch the only other members of the squad to have been shown a yellow card in the first three matches.
7. Elsewhere in the Champions League
UEFA Champions League match ball 2025/26 (Photo UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Heading into the midway point of the league phase, PSG, Bayern Munich, Inter, Arsenal and Real Madrid have all banked nine points from nine.
But that stands to change as Liverpool will hope to derail Real Madrid, while PSG host Bayern on Tuesday evening – which you will need a second screen to watch as the two kick off at the same time.
Manchester City vs. Borussia Dortmund, meanwhile, could be the best pick on Wednesday night – both teams have won two and drawn one in the Champions League.
8. Did you know?
HERNING, DENMARK - Wednesday, December 9, 2020: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (C) celebrates after scoring the first goal during the UEFA Champions League Group D match between FC Midtjylland and Liverpool FC at the Herning Arena. (Pic by Lars Møller/Propaganda)
A weird quirk to Liverpool in European competition is that they have not drawn any of their last 29 group/league phase matches since 2020.
The last time Liverpool drew a match in the initial phase of UEFA competition was the 1-1 draw at Midtjylland in December 2020.
In the seasons since, the Reds have won 24 and lost five across their early games in the Champions League and Europa League.
Liverpool are clearly all or nothing!
9. Referee: Istvan Kovacs (RO)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, February 21, 2023: Referee István Kovács shows a yellow card during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 1st Leg game between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Istvan Kovacs will oversee the fixture at Anfield, his third time at the ground and he does not come with a good record with the Reds losing both previous matches.
They are ones we would rather forget, too, as he had the whistle during the 5-2 defeat to Real Madrid in 2023 and last season’s 1-0 defeat to PSG.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, have won three of the four matches he has taken charge of.
10. How to follow with TIA!
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, November 27, 2024: General view of Anfield before the UEFA Champions League game between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid CF at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool’s clash against Real Madrid will be shown live on Amazon Prime Video for those in the UK, with coverage underway from 6.30pm (GMT).
If you cannot sit and watch or would prefer our take on proceedings, then join Henry Jackson on our matchday live blog from 7.15pm.
Into these, Reds!