Liverpool will have to produce an iconic Champions League comeback against Real Madrid tonight if they are to secure a place in the quarter-finals.
The Reds were beaten 5-2 at Anfield in the round of 16 first leg last month, with the reigning champions all-but securing their place in the final eight.
Jurgen Klopp’s side will still believe that can make it through but face an almost impossible task of scoring at least four at the Bernabeu.
Los Blancos on the other hand need to avoid embarrassment and will surely think that one more goal would be enough to go through.
Real Madrid vs Liverpool: talkSPORT coverage
This Champions League round of 16 second leg will take place on Wednesday, March 15.
Kick-off at the Bernabeu is scheduled for 8pm.
talkSPORT will have live coverage of the game presented by Adrian Durham.
Commentary will then come from Jim Proudfoot and former England defender Stuart Pearce.
To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
Real Madrid vs Liverpool: Team news
Real will have Karim Benzema leading the line after the talisman was rested as a precaution at the weekend.
Left-back Ferland Mendy may also be back fit to start with David Alaba remaining on the sidelines due to an injury picked up in the first leg.
As for Liverpool, Luis Diaz is nearing his return from a long-term injury and has a small chance of featuring in this clash.
However, Thiago and Joe Gomez remain out and Naby Keita is also a doubt.
And Liverpool will be short in midfield as Stefan Bajcetic and Jordan Henderson have also been ruled out.
Real Madrid vs Liverpool: What has been said?
Liverpool manager Klopp speaking at his pre-match press conference: “I said three weeks ago, Madrid with their result are through to the next round.
“Now we are here three weeks later and we know there’s a game to play.
“If there’s only a one percent chance, I would like to give it a try. We’re here to play an extremely strong opponent and try to win the game.
“As difficult as it is, it’s not likely, but possible. For that, we are here, we’ll see where it leads us to.”
Real Madrid vs Liverpool: Match facts
- Mohamed Salah has both scored and assisted in eight different UEFA Champions League games for Liverpool, the most any player has done so with an English side in the competition. He’s scored in his last six appearances in the competition, with only Ruud van Nistelrooy netting in more consecutive games for an English side (9 in April 2003 with Man Utd).
- Vinícius Júnior has scored UEFA Champions League braces for Real Madrid against Liverpool at both Anfield and the Alfredo Di Stéfano. With this game taking place at the Santiago Bernabéu, he could become just the second player to score 2+ goals in a Champions League game at three different venues against an opponent, after Cristiano Ronaldo against Juventus (Allianz Stadium, Bernabéu and Principality Stadium).
- Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior has been involved in 18 goals in his last 18 UEFA Champions League games (10 goals, 8 assists), while he’s scored more goals against Liverpool in the competition than he has against any other opponent (5).
- Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has scored 19 goals in his last 19 appearances in the UEFA Champions League knockout stages, while he’s also the top scorer against Liverpool in European Cup/Champions League history (6).
- This will be Real Madrid’s 300th match in the UEFA Champions League, at least 20 more than any other side since the 1992 rebrand. The Whites are looking to win five consecutive home games in the competition for the first time since a run of eight between September 2015 and October 2016.
- Liverpool are one of just four sides to have progressed from a UEFA Champions League tie having lost the first leg by 3+ goals, doing so against Barcelona in the 2018-19 semi-final (0-3 away, 4-0 home).
- In the first leg, Liverpool conceded five goals in a European match for just the second time in their history (1-5 vs Ajax in December 1966). Their biggest aggregate defeats in all two-legged ties in European competition have been by four goals (3-7 v Ajax in 1966-67 European Cup, 2-6 v Spartak Moscow in 1992-93 Cup Winner’s Cup).
- Real Madrid have progressed from 26 of their previous 27 European Cup/UEFA Champions League knockout ties when winning the first leg away from home, with the exception being defeat to Ajax at this stage in 2018-19 (2-1 away, 1-4 at home).
- Liverpool are one of four English sides to have won away against Real Madrid in European competition, along with Arsenal, Man City and Chelsea. However, the Reds have lost their last two such visits since their 1-0 victory in February 2009.
- Real Madrid have won six of their last seven UEFA Champions League games against Liverpool (D1), having lost their first three meetings with the Reds in the European Cup/Champions League.
