With just a few days to go before a challenging trip to Anfield to face Liverpool, Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid can remain confident. While injury concerns reduce the European champions’ chances of victory, the English side will also be missing two key players.
This will be one of the major clashes of the year-end in Europe. After the final international break of the year, Liverpool will host Real Madrid for the fifth round of the Champions League group stage. Currently leading the qualification phase in the new format of UEFA’s most prestigious club competition, the Reds will be looking to end their poor run against the European champions. However, for this crucial match, some major doubts remain in Arne Slot’s squad regarding injuries.
Two worrying cases for Liverpool
While Carlo Ancelotti may have to do without several key players for this match due to recent injuries, particularly in defence, Liverpool also faces doubts over two of their main players. As revealed by Footboom1, Alisson Becker and Trent Alexander-Arnold are both serious doubts. Both players missed the match against Southampton this Sunday in the Premier League, and they are far from certain to be available for next Wednesday’s match.
As Arne Slot, Jürgen Klopp’s successor, explained, the situation regarding the Brazilian goalkeeper suggests no possibility of him featuring for the Real Madrid clash. “We are being very cautious with everyone, especially when it comes to muscle injuries. Alisson is training with the goalkeepers but not with the team. He is improving, but he won’t be ready for Sunday,” Slot said in a press conference on Friday.
Regarding the right-back, who has been strongly linked with a move to Madrid next season, a return to training is expected soon, as Slot also confirmed. Alexander-Arnold, who suffered a hamstring injury before the international break, should return to full team training on Monday. However, his availability for the Madrid match remains highly uncertain unless the Liverpool medical and coaching staff decide to take a risk.
The return of Thibaut Courtois increases the chances
With these two concerns, Carlo Ancelotti and his team, who cannot afford a loss, can still hope for a good result at Anfield. A win against Leganés this Sunday in La Liga would do a lot of good for the Madrid squad, but the return of Thibaut Courtois will bring even more reassurance. Still decisive in goal every time he has appeared this season, the Belgian goalkeeper, who has already frustrated Liverpool on multiple occasions, will indeed be available for next Wednesday’s match.
In addition to potential returns from Lucas Vázquez, Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is working hard to come back, and Rodrygo Goes, who has felt great in recent days after his injury against Osasuna, Real Madrid has every chance of punishing the Reds.
Leave a Reply