Liverpool host Real Madrid in blockbuster clash

The Champions League will boast perhaps its most mouth-watering fixture of the season so far as reigning champions Real Madrid will travel to Anfield on Wednesday to take on the hottest team in Europe Liverpool. The Reds top the table in the Premier League as well as the Champions League in which they are the only team to have won all four of their games and will be eager to test their credentials against 18th-placed Los Blancos under new boss Arne Slot.

*Real Madrid are the team who Liverpool have lost most often against in European competitions, having being beaten by Los Blancos seven times, including heartbreaking Champions League final losses in 2018 and 2022.

*The teams last faced off in the round of 16 in 2022-23, when Madrid trounced Liverpool 5-2 at Anfield before sealing qualification with a 1-0 home win.

*That away triumph made Madrid the first team in Champions League history to go two goals down but recover to win by a three-goal margin, as well as the first visitors to net five times at Anfield in a European fixture.

*Liverpool could win their first five matches of a major European campaign for just the second time. They previously did so in 2021-22, losing to Real Madrid in the Champions League final.

*Across all competitions this season, Vinicius Jr has at least seven more goal involvements than any other Madrid player (12 goals, 6 assists), while also creating a team-high 43 chances.

*However, Los Blancos have coped well without Vinicius in the past. Since the start of last season, they have won 41 of 57 games across all competitions with the Brazilian appearing (71.9%), but have won 75% of matches (12 of 16) when he's been absent. Madrid have also scored marginally more goals per game (2.4 to 2.3) without the winger.

*Liverpool boss Arne Slot has won 16 of his 18 matches in all competitions.

*Mohamed Salah has spearheaded the flying start with 12 goals and 10 assists in all competitions.