Liverpool vs Real Madrid predictions: Salah can expose Real's defensive flaws
- Mohamed Salah scored twice at Southampton on Sunday
- Real Madrid have lost two of their last three Champions League matches
- Recommended bet: Mohamed Salah to score
Liverpool have won all four of their Champions League fixtures to emerge as the leaders of the league phase and host a Real Madrid side in contrasting form on Wednesday.
The Reds were lacklustre at times in Sunday's 3-2 win at Southampton but could be forgiven for having one eye on this match in which they will aim to extend their winning run in all competitions to six games.
Holders Real won 3-0 at Leganes but are 18th in the continental standings, having lost two of their four Champions League matches and have serious injury issues in defence.
Mohamed Salah rescued his team at St Mary's, netting twice to take them from 2-1 down to 3-2 up and he could be the perfect player to exploit Real's flaws and again inspire his team to victory.
Team news
Caoimhin Kelleher should continue in goal in place of Alisson Becker, while Trent Alexander-Arnold, Federico Chiesa and Diogo Jota are also out.
Real are hampered by knee injuries to defenders Eder Militao, David Alaba and Dani Carvajal.
Another issue Carlo Ancelotti has had this season has been having too many attacking players to choose from but their offensive options look limited, with Vinicius Junior sidelined and Rodrygo likely to miss out through a similar muscular issue.
Meanwhile, there are also doubts over Aurelien Tchouameni and Lucas Vazquez due to ankle and groin problems.
The stats
Liverpool have won all four of their Champions League matches, while Madrid have lost two out of four, most recently losing 3-1 at home to AC Milan.
Real have lost just one of their seven away games in 2024-25 but that was also in the Champions League at Lille.
Premier League leaders Liverpool have lost just one of their 18 competitive fixtures this term.
Forward Salah may have netted just once in Europe, but his brace at Southampton means he has scored six times in Liverpool's last five league fixtures.
Prediction
Madrid were Jurgen Klopp's final Champions League opponents in charge of Liverpool, losing home and away in the last 16 in 2022-23.
Salah scored in the home leg, putting his team 2-0 up before Real roared back to win 5-2.
Militao was one of the scorers at Anfield and his absence, alongside those of Alaba and Carvajal, has left the visitors looking short at the back.
Arne Slot will implore Liverpool to attack with pace to secure victory as soon as possible, with Manchester City visiting Anfield on Sunday.
Putting Salah in space will be crucial to their hopes and his current form hints that, like in February 2023, he can get his name on the scoresheet.
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