This summer saw a major change for Liverpool as Jürgen Klopp, a significant figure in the club’s history, departed. His replacement, Dutch manager Arne Slot, has quickly earned the support of both players and fans.
Under Slot’s leadership, Liverpool has taken charge of the Premier League, currently leading Manchester City, the four-time defending champions, by 5 points.
Aside from an unexpected 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in September, Liverpool has achieved impressive victories against Bournemouth, Wolverhampton, Crystal Palace, and Chelsea, and secured a solid 2-2 draw with Arsenal.
A recent win against Aston Villa has helped them maintain their top position. Liverpool is also excelling in cup competitions, including a 2-1 win over Brighton and an undefeated run in the Champions League, where they lead their group following a dominant 4-0 victory over Leverkusen.
In contrast, Real Madrid has been facing difficulties. A recent 3-1 loss to AC Milan in the Champions League added to their woes, following a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Barcelona in El Clasico, where Real Madrid was thoroughly outplayed, especially in the second half. The last time Real Madrid suffered such a heavy loss to Barcelona, they went on to win both La Liga and the Champions League.
However, this season, Barcelona appears much stronger, and Real Madrid’s defense of their 36th La Liga title is in serious doubt. Despite a 4-0 win over Osasuna before the break, injury concerns are growing, with three players sidelined during that match.
For Liverpool, there is positive news as some key players are recovering. Eliott has already returned to training, with Chiesa and Jota expected to follow soon. Alisson, who has been capably replaced by Kelleher, is also on track to return. However, Alexander-Arnold remains sidelined, and his return date is uncertain.
Luis Diaz, who has been in excellent form with 5 goals and 2 assists in the league and a hat-trick in the Champions League, may start alongside Gakpo or Nunez, who scored before the break.
Salah, with 8 goals and 6 assists in the Premier League, will undoubtedly be a crucial figure in the attack. Liverpool’s defense, led by Konaté and van Dijk, and the impressive Gravenberch in midfield, remains one of the strongest in both the Premier League and the Champions League.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid’s injury list continues to grow, with Militao and Carvajal ruled out for the season due to serious knee injuries, along with Joan Martinez. Additionally, Lucas Vasquez and Rodrygo have recently been injured, joining Courtois, Tchouaméni, and Alaba in the treatment room.
Despite some of these players resuming training during the break, including Rodrygo and Vazquez, Real Madrid is being cautious with their recovery. Courtois, however, is expected to return to action soon.
The team will also rely on Eduardo Camavinga, Ferland Mendy, and Kylian Mbappé, who is in good form, as well as Vinicius Jr., who earned a second-place finish in the Ballon d’Or and scored a hat-trick against Osasuna. Jude Bellingham, who also scored in that match, has started his season strongly.
Prediction
With Liverpool’s recent form, including eight wins in their last nine games, they have surged to the top of the Champions League standings, having won all five of their home matches during this period.
In contrast, Real Madrid has struggled in away games, losing 10 of their 13 matches on the road this season.
Prediction: Liverpool 2 – 1 Real Madrid.
