Liverpool vs Real Madrid – LIVE!
Liverpool and Real Madrid have gone toe-to-toe at Anfield in the opening 45 minutes but there has not yet been a goal in the blockbuster Champions League tonight. The Reds have won all four of their matches in Europe so far this season, the only club with a perfect record, and even a draw here would likely move them back to the top of the table.
Raul Asencio had to clear the ball off the line in the opening minutes, having almost turned it into his own net, before Darwin Nunez went close with a clever header. At the other end, Real have had little in the way of clear chances, with Conor Bradley getting the better of Kylian Mbappe.
Slot’s side have been hugely impressive on all fronts this season, holding an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League after only 12 matches and unbeaten in Europe. Real, meanwhile, have ground to make up in the Champions League, sitting 21st in the table with six points from their first four matches. Follow all the action with Standard Sport’s LIVE blog below!
Liverpool vs Real Madrid latest news
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GOAL! Mac Allister breaks deadlock
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HT: Goalless at half-time
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How to watch: TNT Sports
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Liverpool team news: Alexander-Arnold on the bench
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Real Madrid team news: Valverde at right-back
Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid
21:15 , Matt Verri
56 mins: Ancelotti has seen enough.
Guler and Camavinga off, Ceballos and Vazquez off. Will allow Valverde to move into midfield.
Camavinga had gone down off the ball, looked like a muscle injury.
Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid
21:12 , Matt Verri
54 mins: Anfield is bouncing.
Liverpool coming forward again, Jones and Diaz combine superbly.
Rolled into the path of Mac Allister, free on the edge of the box… fires wide!
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid | Alexis Mac Allister 52′
21:10 , Matt Verri
LIVERPOOL IN FRONT!
It had been coming.
Bradley through to Mac Allister, one touch to get it out of his feet and a second to drill it low into the far corner.
Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid
21:09 , Matt Verri
51 mins: Great save!
Liverpool getting closer. Bradley with a brilliant run, ball floated over the top and it picks him out perfectly.
Headed low, Courtois gets down to save.
Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid
21:09 , Matt Verri
50 mins: And another big appeal, as Guler challenges Jones in the box. Real getting themselves into huge problems playing out from the back.
Mbappe tries to get Real going, nice turn… and then a pass straight to Robertson. Woeful.
Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid
21:07 , Matt Verri
49 mins: Real have barely had a kick since half-time. All Liverpool.
Modric in his box with a terrible pass out, straight to Gravenberch. He slides it through to Salah, who goes over and screams for a penalty.
Referee waves those appeals away.
Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid
21:04 , Matt Verri
46 mins: Fast start from Liverpool.
Ball falls for Jones in the Real box, should probably get the shot away first time but takes an extra touch and the chance goes.
Back underway!
21:03 , Matt Verri
Up and running in the second-half!
As it stands…
20:59 , Matt Verri
If it stays like this, Liverpool will be going back to the top of the Champions League table.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, would be 19th, but only three points off the top-eight.
Reminder that those in the top eight after the league phases go straight through to the last-16, avoiding an extra two-legged knockout tie.
Huge from Bradley!
20:52 , Matt Verri
You’d have to say Bradley has had the better of his battle with Mbappe.
This was probably the highlight of the half – nails that challenge to stop the Real Madrid man charging away on goal.
HT: Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid
20:47 , Matt Verri
That’s half-time at Anfield.
Really enjoyable watch, even if there hasn’t been much in the way of clear-cut chances.
Liverpool have probably had the better of it, but Real have been up for the physical battle.
Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid
20:45 , Matt Verri
45 mins: One minute added on.
It’s said about most matches that are even vaguely decent, but this really has flown by.
Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid
20:43 , Matt Verri
43 mins: Robertson has to get back and concede the corner, after his poor touch very nearly lets Diaz in.
Modric again to the near post, Nunez can head it away and Diaz can’t get the ball down in time to get a shot away.
Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid
20:41 , Matt Verri
41 mins: Bellingham’s dummy does for Gravenberch and suddenly Real have numbers flying forward.
Modric on the left has three to pick out, but the pass with the outside of his boot isn’t a great one and Konate can intercept.
Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid
20:40 , Matt Verri
40 mins: Another Liverpool player into the book.
Guler on the counter for Liverpool, he’s about to play the ball forward but Mac Allister clips his heels.
Midfielder will miss Liverpool’s next Champions League match.
Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid
20:37 , Matt Verri
37 mins: Momentum is firmly with Liverpool right now.
Nunez wins it back and there’s so much space for Liverpool as it’s played inside.
Salah cuts it back for Jones, who whips an effort over the bar. Real struggling a bit now.
Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid
20:35 , Matt Verri
35 mins: Real are getting a couple of moments on the counter, but the final ball hasn’t been great.
Mbappe has a chance to play Guler into space, too much on it and Van Dijk mops up.
At the other end, Jones gets away from Modric and rolls the ball into the six-yard box. Nobody there for Liverpool.
Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid
20:33 , Matt Verri
33 mins: And at the other end Liverpool go very close to the opening goal.
Lovely dinked ball over the top from Mac Allister, Nunez on the stretch nods it across the face of goal… bounces just wide.
Diaz couldn’t catch up with it in the middle.
Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid
20:32 , Matt Verri
32 mins: Sensational from Bradley!
Liverpool look to be in big trouble as Guler sets Mbappe away on the counter and he has plenty of open space in front of him.
Knocks it past Robertson, but Bradley comes across and absolutely flies into the challenge. Timed it perfectly.
Celebrated like a goal by the Anfield crowd.
Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid
20:30 , Matt Verri
30 mins: Bradley the man tasked with marking Rudiger. Not sure I fancy his chances.
Corner is headed out to Guler, who decides to try his luck with the first-time effort from 25 yards out as Salah closes him down. Shanked a few miles wide.
Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid
20:29 , Matt Verri
29 mins: Mbappe with a first chance to run at Bradley, cuts inside and switches it out to Guler.
He picks out Bellingham, who is crowded out and has to settle for winning the corner.
Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid
20:27 , Matt Verri
26 mins: Pace of the match has just slowed down a bit as Liverpool knock it around.
Bellingham and Gravenberch are having a good battle in midfield – Real Madrid man has had the better of a couple of tussles so far.
Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid
20:23 , Matt Verri
23 mins: It’s… not good.
Guler strolls up to it, never looked particularly convincing and it’s floated comfortably over the bar. Kelleher would have got there anyway.
At the other end, it’s a bit of a mess in the Real box. Ball drops for Nunez, Courtois reacts brilliantly to save! That was a real chance.
Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid
20:22 , Matt Verri
22 mins: Nunez charges back and bundles into Camavinga, needless free-kick given away in a dangerous position. Already on a yellow card, can’t afford to be quite so pumped up.
Guler standing over this. Ideal angle for a left-footer.
Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid
20:20 , Matt Verri
20 mins: Nunez in a foot race with Asencio… who wins it. Great defending.
Real starting to see a bit more of the ball, after that quick Liverpool start. Nothing in this match at the moment.
Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid
20:17 , Matt Verri
17 mins: It’s all getting heated at Anfield.
Liverpool fans furious after they don’t get a free-kick, and the mood isn’t improved when the whistle goes as Van Dijk barges Mbappe.
Gravenberch booked for protesting that decision.
Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid
20:15 , Matt Verri
15 mins: Bellingham goes up for the cross in the Liverpool boss, Gravenberch does enough to put him off… but corner given. Reds unimpressed with that.
Modric takes, can’t beat Robertson at the near post. Not his best, to put it mildly.
Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid
20:14 , Matt Verri
14 mins: Referee has decided to book both of them. All very pointless.
Anyway, Liverpool corner. Robertson across to take this and swing it in.
Fired in at the near post, Camavinga and Guler combine to clear… and now Real can break. Or not, Bellingham crowded out and has to come back.
Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid
20:12 , Matt Verri
12 mins: Nunez has gone down off the ball in the area.
Replays show he had a wrestling match with Asencio, the pair had a push and a shove… and Nunez then launched himself to the ground holding his face.
I’d suggest he’ll probably make a full recovery.
Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid
20:10 , Matt Verri
10 mins: Mbappe looking to keep making that run in behind Konate.
Camavinga tries to float it over the top, but not enough on it and the Liverpool centre-back can head it clear.
Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid
20:08 , Matt Verri
8 mins: Van Dijk with a really loose pass, straight to Guler.
Real Madrid man can drive into the box, but he tries to knock it past Robertson and the left-back just sees it out for a goal-kick.
Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid
20:07
7 mins: Real play through the press, but Modric probably isn’t the man they want breaking away.
He then overhits the pass through to Mbappe, Konate can get across to cover.
There’s a fair amount of space on offer for both sides in midfield. Dangerous.
Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid
20:04 , Matt Verri
4 mins: OFF THE LINE!
Wow. Mbappe robbed by Salah and Liverpool are away, Nunez leading the charge.
Wide to Salah, slid through to Nunez again. His shot from Courtois is parried out, Asencio knocks it towards his own goal but just about scrambles it away in time.
Inches away from going over the line.
Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid
20:03 , Matt Verri
3 mins: Liverpool dominating possession in the opening minutes. Not a particularly intense press from Real.
Mac Allister in space, he finds Diaz out wide. Colombian is up against Valverde tonight – will fancy his chances.
First opportunity for Real to break, but Camavinga is content to turn all the way back and slow it down.
KICK-OFF!
20:01 , Matt Verri
Underway at Anfield!
20:00 , Matt Verri
Champions League anthem absolutely drowned out by boos.
Kind of night where under Jurgen Klopp you’d expect Liverpool to absolutely fly at Real Madrid from the first whistle.
We’ll see what Arne Slot has planned…
Here we go…
19:57 , Matt Verri
You’ll Never Walk Alone blasting out around Liverpool. It will not surprise you to hear it’s a pretty decent atmosphere…
This isn’t as experienced a Real Madrid side as we’ve seen in recent seasons. They are very much the underdogs tonight.
Ten-minute warning!
19:51
Players back inside, they’ll be in the tunnel again in the next few minutes.
Big night for Kylian Mbappe, who has yet to really hit top form in a Real Madrid shirt.
No Vinicius Jr – chance for him to be the one who steps up and delivers.
Ancelotti coy on Alexander-Arnold
19:43 , Matt Verri
Trent Alexander-Arnold will be out of contract next summer as it stands.
The right-back has been strongly linked with a free transfer to Real Madrid, but Carlo Ancelotti did not engage with that when asked yesterday.
“I’m sorry but I cannot think about Alexander-Arnold,” Ancelotti said. “He is not my player.”
On the dynamic of a former Everton boss managing at Anfield, he added: “I have a good memory of Everton and I consider Liverpool with usual respect, fantastic club and supporters. But I’m still an Evertonian!
Not long now!
19:38 , Matt Verri
Warm-ups ongoing at Anfield, kick-off fast approaching.
Just over 20 minutes to go until we get up and running.
Huge run coming up for Liverpool
19:27 , Matt Verri
Eight points clear in the Premier League, perfect record in Europe… it’s all going well for Liverpool this season. Very well.
Next ten days will be crucial, though.
Liverpool host Manchester City at Anfield this weekend, before trips to Newcastle and Everton.
Get through those unscathed and the excitement levels at the club really will build.
Slot: Stupid to think Real threat has diminished
19:21 , Matt Verri
Real Madrid sit 21st in the Champions League table – not sure many would be expecting that after four matches.
Arne Slot, though, has used his programme notes to make it clear there will be no complacency in the Liverpool camp night.
The Liverpool boss wrote: “The easy – and stupid – mistake to make would be to look at the current standards in the Champions League and believe Real’s threat has diminished.
“The reality is the leaves have only just fallen from the trees. How many times have clubs like Real found themselves in this kind of position in autumn only for it to feel like a trick of the mind by the time we reach spring?
“It is a story almost as old as football itself.”
Carragher: Salah comments were ‘selfish’
19:14 , Matt Verri
Jamie Carragher has criticised Mohamed Salah’s public comments on his contract situation, believing it was “selfish” from the Liverpool star.
Salah spoke of his frustration at the club not yet offering him a new contract, with his current deal expiring next summer.
“I am very disappointed in Mo Salah,” Carragher said.
“That interview, Liverpool have got Real Madrid in midweek and they’ve got Manchester City at the weekend – that’s the story for Liverpool right now.
“The most important thing for Liverpool Football Club this season is not the future of Mo Salah. It’s not the future of Virgil van Dijk and it’s not the future of Trent Alexander-Arnold.
“The most important thing is Liverpool winning the Premier League. That is more important than any of those players, and if he continues to put comments out, or his agent keeps putting tweets out, that’s selfish. That’s thinking about themselves and not the football club.”
Familiar face in attendance
19:04 , Matt Verri
Gareth Bale is doing some punditry work at Anfield tonight.
The 35-year-old won the Champions League five times as a Real Madrid player, scoring twice in the 2018 final against Liverpool.
One of those goals was a stunning overhead kick. The other… we’ll just say Loris Karius was feeling generous.
In the building…
18:57 , Matt Verri
The hosts have arrived at Anfield!
Alexander-Arnold in the squad
18:50 , Matt Verri
As Arne Slot suggested at his pre-match press conference, Trent Alexander-Arnold is back in the squad but not yet fit enough to start.
That means Conor Bradley keeps his place, while Curtis Jones and Alexis Mac Allister both start in midfield. Dominik Szoboszlai on the bench tonight.
Up front it’s as expected, with Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz either side of Darwin Nunez.
Liverpool team news
18:46 , Matt Verri
Liverpool XI: Kelleher, Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Jones, Salah, Nunez, Diaz
Subs: Jaros, Davies, Gomez, Endo, Szoboszlai, Gakpo, Elliott, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Morton
Last time at Anfield…
18:35 , Matt Verri
It didn’t go well for Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp’s side took a 2-0 lead inside 15 minutes in the first leg of the last-16 tie in 2023… and then it fell apart.
Real Madrid won 5-2 on the night, Anfield left in a stunned silence, and the Spanish side completed the job in the second leg.
Salah lays down contract gauntlet
18:24 , Matt Verri
Speaking earlier this week, Mohamed Salah admitted he is “disappointed” with Liverpool after revealing he has not yet received a contract offer from the club.
The Egyptian’s current deal expires at the end of the season and his future at Anfield remains uncertain.
Salah voiced his frustration after scoring twice in the win over Southampton, as he increased the pressure on the Liverpool hierarchy.
“Well, we are almost in December and I haven’t received any offers yet to stay in the club,” Salah said. “I’m probably more out than in.
“You know I have been in the club for many years. There is no club like this. But in the end it is not in my hands. As I said before, it is December and I haven’t received anything yet about my future.”
Pressed on whether he was disappointed by the lack of progress, Salah responded: “Of course, yeah.
“I’m not going to retire soon so I’m just playing, focusing on the season and I’m trying to win the Premier League and hopefully the Champions League as well. I’m disappointed but we will see.”
He added: “I love the fans. The fans love me. In the end it is not in my hands or the fans’ hands. Let’s wait and see.”
Asencio and Guler make full European debuts for Madrid
18:16 , Matt Verri
Raul Asencio and Arda Guler both make their first Champions League starts tonight!
Carlo Ancelotti forced to throw them in at the deep end, with so many injuries across the pitch.
Federico Valverde filling in at right-back too, Lucas Vazquez only fit enough for the bench on his return to the squad.
Stage is set!
18:07 , Matt Verri
Big, big European night ahead…
Real Madrid team news
17:59 , Matt Verri
The visitors have gone early in naming their side…
Real Madrid XI: Courtois, Valverde, Asencio, Rudiger, Mendy, Guler, Camavinga, Modric, Bellingham, Brahim, Mbappe
Subs: Lunin, Gonzalez, Endrick, Vazquez, Vallejo, Ceballos, Garcia, Gonzalo
Standard Sport prediction
17:53 , Matt Verri
So strong at home in Europe and having made light work of the Champions League thus far, Liverpool look a fearsome prospect.
Still, it’s equally as difficult to write off Madrid – despite their recent struggles.
Draw, 2-2.
Real Madrid team news
17:47 , Matt Verri
Real Madrid have a number of key players unavailable at Anfield.
Madrid will be without Vinicius Jr, who is set to miss a few weeks with a left leg injury and has not travelled with the squad.
Rodrygo will also not be involved, having picked up a knock against Osasuna earlier this month, while Eder Militao’s season is over after he suffered an ACL injury.
Dani Carvajal remains out and although Lucas Vazquez is set to make the squad, having recovered ahead of schedule from his own injury problems, he is unlikely to come straight back into the side. Federico Valverde is set to fill in again at right-back.
With Vinicius and Rodrygo both out, the likes of Brahim Diaz and Arda Guler could be in contention for rare starts alongside Kylian Mbappe.
Jude Bellingham will start in midfield, likely partnered by Luka Modric with Eduardo Camavinga in a deeper role.
Predicted Real Madrid XI: Lunin, Valverde, Raul, Rudiger, Mendy, Modric, Camavinga, Bellingham, Guler, Mbappe, Diaz
Liverpool team news
17:40 , Matt Verri
Liverpool will have Trent Alexander-Arnold available for tonight’s Champions League showdown with Real Madrid.
The defender was forced off during the win over Aston Villa before the international break and subsequently pulled out of the England squad with a hamstring injury.
Alexander-Arnold then missed the 3-2 win over Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday after Slot had claimed the right-back could return “in between” the meeting with Madrid and Sunday’s League clash with Manchester City.
However, Alexander-Arnold trained with the Liverpool squad on Tuesday, stepping up his efforts to prove his fitness ahead of the Spanish giants’ visit. Slot confirmed the defender would be in the squad, albeit is unlikely to start.
None of Alisson Becker, Diogo Jota or Federico Chiesa will return for the visit of the European champions.
Alexis Mac Allister and Luis Diaz could come back into the starting lineup after starting on the bench against Saints, while Kostas Tsimikas is out with an ankle injury.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Nunez
How to watch Liverpool vs Real Madrid
17:32 , Matt Verri
TV channel: The game will be broadcast live in the UK on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate. Coverage starts at 7pm GMT ahead of an 8pm kick-off.
Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers will also be able to watch on a live stream online via the Discovery+ app and website.
LIVE coverage: Follow all the action tonight right here!
Good evening!
17:23 , Matt Verri
Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Liverpool vs Real Madrid!
It’s a huge clash in the Champions League tonight, as Liverpool, who boast a perfect record in the competition so far this season, take on the defending champions.
We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news ahead of kick-off, which comes at 8pm GMT from Anfield. Stay with us!
