Madrid a Real threat to Liverpool in the Champions League

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo will be looking to add to his tally of 17 goals this season as Los Blancos visit Liverpool in the Champions League

Liverpool host Real Madrid at Anfield tonight in the Champions League, in what is one of the ties of match day three of Europe’s elite competition, as two of the European Cup’s most successful teams go head-to-head.

Contrasts

The contrast between the two teams form could not be more different though. Liverpool have struggled for form this season, but still lie fifth in the Premier League table.

They do however sit nine points behind league leaders Chelsea and have not produced anything like the style of football played last season.

Real Madrid is third in La Liga, four points off league leaders Barcelona. However, for yet another season Carlo Ancelotti has had to tweak his team, with the likes of Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez arriving and Angel Di Maria departing.

After a difficult start Los Blancos now seem to have a settled formation and team with the new players integrated and are currently on a four game winning run, including a 5-0 away win at Levante last time out.

Lucky

The Reds were very lucky to claim a 3-2 victory at Premier League basement club QPR at the weekend. Two own goals and a deflected goal meant that Brendan Rodgers team claimed a victory they hardly deserved.

The win does not seem to have masked that Liverpool are a shadow of the team that looked so dangerous last season. The pace of the Liverpool attacks seem slower, except when England international Raheem Sterling has the ball.

The Reds cannot keep relying on a teenager to win them games. The men from Merseyside are obviously missing Daniel Sturridge’s pace and energy and controversial Italian striker Mario Balotelli has given the team very little since his summer arrival from AC Milan.

Adapted

It has taken new arrivals Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez a few games to settle at Real Madrid. Both are playing in new roles, but they now seem comfortable in them. Kroos is now playing in a number four role protecting the back four and using his passing ability in a deep-lying playmaker role.

James Rodriguez has played in a variety of roles in his career. At Real Madrid, boss Carlo Ancelotti has used him as a right-sided midfielder in a central midfield three, just like he had done with Angel Di Maria prior to his departure to Manchester United.

The Colombian star now seems to have adapted to the position and is starting to hit form for the team from the Spanish capital.

Firepower

Real Madrid have a frightening amount of firepower within their squad. There is James, Isco, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Javier Hernandez and last but not least the majestic juggernaut that is Cristiano Ronaldo. That is without talking about the likes of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos who are a threat from deeper positions.

Los Blancos arguably have the best group of attacking players in world football and it is difficult for any team to stop them. Liverpool have been very leaky in defence in the last 18 months and concede far too many goals.

If Liverpool defends like they have done this season and much of the last campaign then they could be in major trouble against the Spanish giants. Real are lethal in front of goal and the Reds will have to show a big improvement on recent defensive performances if they are to gain a positive result.

Occasion

Liverpool down the years has always been a team for the big occasion. The Reds more often than not seem to up their game when they are facing better opposition. This game has to be described as the biggest of Liverpool’s season so far.

The Reds are playing the reigning European champions, who are in top form and looking determined to defend their title. This is the sort of game that Liverpool teams of the past would have thrived on.

One of the factors in Liverpool’s favour is their famous Anfield home. The historic stadium seems to shine on European nights under the floodlights and helps inspire heroic performances from the home team. At the moment it looks like they will need all the help they can get.

Favourites

The visitors are favourites to claim victory in this one at odds of 5/6 and those odds seem justified considering that Los Blancos are the form team heading to Merseyside.

A Liverpool win looks against the odds, but if any team knows about upsetting the odds in the Champions League it is Liverpool and even in inconsistent form they cannot be completely written-off in this clash.

Can Liverpool record a home win over Real Madrid?