Champions League
2025-11-04 - Liverpool vs Real Madrid
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA Champions League
Tuesday 4th November 2025 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV
Liverpool
With the losses piling up, it is no surprise that there would have been some criticism levelled at Liverpool, but the reaction to the League Cup Fourth Round defeat to Crystal Palace was perhaps a little over the top. Some 'fans' were calling for Arne Slot to be Sacked for picking a weaker team, which is what many of the top managers have done in the League Cup for two decades, and the 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday will have vindicated the decisions made.
Getting back on track domestically and in Europe is all that Arne Slot and the players will be thinking about and Liverpool have two big games before the November international break. Last year they topped the Champions League Group table, but this time around Liverpool are 10th after three fixtures have been played. While Arne Slot made it clear that he will not focus so heavily on trying to top the Group again after being 'rewarded' with Paris Saint-Germain in the Last 16, Liverpool will want to finish in the top eight and avoid an extra Knock Out tie in February.
Liverpool had lost 6 of the previous 7 games played in all competitions, but the exception was the 1-5 win at Eintracht Frankfurt on Match Day 3 of the Champions League. Beating Aston Villa at Anfield on Saturday night will also make the players believe they are coming out of the recent slump, especially after suffering consecutive losses here to Manchester United and Crystal Palace before that win.
Alisson is edging closer to a return, but there is still some uncertainty if that will be before the international break. The likes of Curtis Jones and Alexander Isak are expected to miss out again, and Arne Slot may choose to go with the same eleven that played on Saturday.
Real Madrid
The stature of Real Madrid means losing in the Champions League Quarter Final is considered a significant failure and so there is going to be pressure on Xabi Alonso to lead the team to a more impactful run in the competition this season. Strong domestic form has taken Real Madrid clear of rivals Barcelona, although it is still far too early in the campaign to be making trophy parade plans, and the side have made a solid start to the Champions League too.
Only five clubs have perfect records in the Champions League and Real Madrid are one of those as they look to finish in the top eight in the standings and avoid having to play the Knock Out tie in February as they did last season. Only one of the three Champions League games played has been away from home and that was in Kazakhstan against Kairat Almaty so this is a significant test for Los Merengues.
Real Madrid have played 14 games in the 2025/26 season and they have won 13 of those, including 6 in a row since losing 5-2 at Atletico Madrid. They conceded five goals against their City rivals, but Real Madrid have won back to back away games in all competitions since that loss and both with clean sheets.
Defensive issues continue to be the main headline for Real Madrid as far as injury news is concerned with some key figures expected to miss out and Trent Alexander-Arnold perhaps only fit enough for another substitute spot.
Head to Head
Liverpool beat Real Madrid 2-0 at Anfield in the League Phase of the Champions League last season.
That win ended a run of 3 consecutive home fixtures against Real Madrid without a victory- in that time, Liverpool had lost twice.
Prediction
These two clubs have won 21 European Cup/Champions League trophies between them and Liverpool and Real Madrid will certainly be playing this season with ambitions of adding to that total.
With that said, Liverpool vs Real Madrid is always going to be a standout European tie and the football will usually make the headlines.
Usually.
However, this season the draw pitted the two teams together and the focus was immediately on Trent Alexander-Arnold and his first appearance against his boyhood club. Liverpool fans have felt the England defender has long been preparing to leave the club and doing so on a free transfer has only hardened the feelings against him.
The Kop End may have to wait for an appearance from Trent Alexander-Arnold who has only recently returned from an injury. He is one of a number of key Real Madrid defenders that have been missing in recent weeks and Xabi Alonso, a former Liverpool player who still has a lot of love around the club, will know how tough this test is for his team.
Real Madrid will feel they can hurt Liverpool when they get forward, although the style of play may suit Arne Slot's team more than the recent English opponents that have faced up to the domestic Champions.
At the same time, Liverpool will certainly feel this backline is more vulnerable than consecutive away clean sheets will suggest and it could develop into an exciting fixture.
Last season ended 2-0 in favour of Liverpool, but both teams missed Penalties in that fixture.
Assuming the strikers have better feel this time around, this looks a fixture where the attacking players will be able to find joy and backing at least four goals to be shared out looks the play. It may also end with the points shared out in this Match Day 4 fixture, but the game will swing and turn and the likelihood is that goals will be the main outcome to follow.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Liverpool 2-2 Real Madrid
