Liverpool will clash heads with Real Madrid at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on Tuesday night as they try to pick up a positive result in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal tie. The Reds managed to secure a dominant 3-0 victory over Arsenal yesterday, keeping them in high spirits going into this exciting midweek showdown versus Los Blancos.
Jurgen Klopp will probably stick with his favourite 4-3-3 formation and could make a couple of tweaks to his first-team for this game. Both Georginio Wijnaldum and Diogo Jota are expected to start this match at the expense of James Milner and Roberto Firmino.
4-3-3 Liverpool Predicted Lineup To Face Real Madrid
Defence
Alisson Becker will function in between the sticks for the Merseyside giants after earning a deserved clean sheet versus the Gunners in his last outing. Nathaniel Phillips will continue to feature alongside Ozan Kabak at the heart of Klopp’s defence as they focus on stopping the home team from finding the back of the net during the 90 minutes.
Trent Alexander-Arnold produced one of his best displays of this campaign last Saturday, so he will be a nailed-on starter at right-back while Andrew Robertson fills in on the other flank as the left-back. Klopp will ask both of them to pick and choose their moments to join in on the attack as they cannot afford to give the opposition too much space out on the wide areas.
Rhys Williams and James Milner will make up the numbers on the Reds bench as they offer cover for the defensive positions.
Midfield
Fabinho will once again anchor the Liverpool midfield as he looks to disrupt Los Blancos’ rhythm at the centre of the park. Both Georginio Wijnaldum and Thiago Alcantara will play just ahead of the Brazil international as the box to box midfielders. All three of them will be responsible for feeding some decent passes to the front players up top.
Naby Keita and Curtis Jones will have to settle for a spot on the bench as they wait for their chance to make an impact in the second half if required.
Attack
Mohamed Salah will continue to play as the right-sided winger following a goal-scoring display against Arsenal in his last appearance. Sadio Mane is expected to get the nod to operate down the left flank, while Diogo Jota gets a chance to lead the line for the Merseyside giants in the final third. The Portuguese striker has been in red-hot form for both club and country of late, so Klopp will be inclined to start him ahead of Roberto Firmino, who will drop to the bench.
