Real Madrid vs Liverpool Picks and Predictions: Reds Give the Bernabeu An Early Scare

Wednesday’s Champions League action serves up Real Madrid vs. Liverpool, a game that should feel like it’s already decided but in reality, isn’t. Don’t forget that while Real Madrid hold a three-goal lead, having won 5-2 in the first leg, it was actually Liverpool who took the lead at Anfield.

Liverpool blew a 2-0 lead, in part down to some huge individual errors, but if Jurgen Klopp’s team is at their brilliant best they could pull off a huge shock and get back into this tie. 

Don’t miss our Real Madrid vs. Liverpool picks and predictions.

Real Madrid vs Liverpool best odds

Real Madrid vs Liverpool picks and predictions

Wednesday’s Champions League clash between Real Madrid and Liverpool is one of those games which will either be a non-event or an all-time classic. 

Real Madrid hold a 5-2 lead and if they score early, then it’s game over. However, if we see an early Liverpool goal then there’s a chance, albeit a small one, that the English side could pull off something truly special.

That brings us to our best bet, which is for Liverpool to open the scoring at +110. There are a couple of reasons that this bet really stands out to me. 

Firstly, game script: Real Madrid hold a three-goal lead and are under no pressure to go out and extend that. Key to Real’s hopes will be keeping things tight at the back and ensuring that Liverpool’s attack can’t get at them. The home side will look to absorb that pressure and then hit Liverpool on the counter, with the pace of Vinicius helping them break.

The reality is that Liverpool know they need to score and they need to score early if they have any hope of pulling off the comeback victory. We’ve seen throughout Jurgen Klopp’s tenure that Liverpool can start with real intensity and grab early goals. They’ve scored first in five of their past seven games and they’ll need to do it again here.

With Liverpool’s attack there’s a very real chance that they’ll score multiple goals here, which is the second reason I’m confident they’ll score first. The attacking trio of Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, and Cody Gakpo are still learning how to play with one another but in recent weeks they have looked more aligned, more in sync, and more clinical. 

Against Manchester United, we saw them at their best and when this trio is playing well, they really have everything to put pure fear into teams. Real Madrid have some incredible players but in defense and midfield, there isn’t a huge amount of electric pace, something that Liverpool can take advantage of by scoring early.

My best bet: Liverpool to score first (+110 at bet365)

Real Madrid vs Liverpool side analysis

Real Madrid are favorites here, with good reason, but I’d lean towards backing Liverpool. They may be inconsistent but everything about this game indicates that it’s Liverpool who need to take the offensive.

Both teams will set up in a 4-3-3. Real Madrid’s backline is weaker without Ferland Mendy and David Alaba, meaning that Eduardo Camavinga could play left back. In the middle we’ll see Eder Militao and Antonio Rudiger, with Dani Carvajal on the right. The midfield of three has huge experience with veteran superstars Toni Kroos and Luka Modric joined by Aurelien Tchouameni. 

Liverpool’s team feels well known by now, for the most part at least. We’ve spoken of the Salah, Nunez, and Gakpo front three already but behind them the midfield three will be integral to Liverpool’s hopes as they’ll need to outwork, outmuscle and outthink Real Madrid’s central midfielders. 

It’ll be Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and young Stefan Bajcetic who’ll be tasked with this and it’s the biggest concern in theory for Liverpool, with that three far behind the opposition in terms of talent. 

Real Madrid vs Liverpool Over/Under analysis

The sportsbooks are expecting this to be a high scoring game and given that Liverpool have to score goals that makes a lot of sense. Liverpool’s need for goals means that we’re very likely to see them score but also there’s a high chance that we see Real Madrid counter and score too.

Personally if I were betting on this I’d take a slightly bigger risk and instead of betting Over 2.5 goals at -170 I’d rather take a real leap of faith and back Over 3.5 goals at +148. Given everything at stake, as well as the firepower and breath-taking speed of both attacking units, this feels like a game that could be just as high scoring as the first, in which we saw seven goals.

Real Madrid vs Liverpool game info

Real Madrid vs Liverpool key injuries

Real Madrid: Ferland Mendy LB (Out), David Alaba CB (Out).
Liverpool: Luis Diaz LW (Out), Thiago CM (Out), Joe Gomez CB (Out), Naby Keita CB (Questionable).

Real Madrid vs Liverpool weather

The weather will be nice in Madrid, with temperatures in the low 60s at the time of kickoff. It should be a relatively cloudy day with no rain.

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