Liverpool vs Real Madrid LIVE score: Champions League result as Real come from two goals down to win

Liverpool resume their Champions League campaign with a difficult test in the round of 16 when they take on holders Real Madrid. This clash is a repeat of the 2022 final which saw Carlo Ancelotti’s men lift the trophy after a heart-breaking 1-0 victory over the Reds.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have a poor record against the Spanish champions. They have not beaten Real Madrid in any of the last six meetings - a run which dates back to March 2009. During this time Liverpool have managed just one draw, a goalless affair in the 2021 quarter-final second leg, which saw Madrid progress through the round after a 3-1 victory at the Bernabeu.

Yet, this match comes at a decent time for Liverpool. Klopp’s men have recorded back-to-back wins for the first time this year and their forward trio of Mo Salah, Darwin Nunez, and Cody Gakpo seems to finally be clicking. Madrid, meanwhile, are on a four-game winning run which has seen them win the Fifa Club World Cup following a 5-3 victory over Al-Hilal. They are in confident form and will be targeting consecutive Champions League wins with Barcelona eight points clear at the top of La Liga.

Can Liverpool defeat the Champions League winners at Anfield?

Follow all the action as the last-16 knockout stages get underway:

Liverpool vs Real Madrid

• Liverpool host Real Madrid in Champions League last-16

• Fixture is a repeat of 2022 Champions League final which Madrid won 1-0

• 47’ GOAL! - Militao powers Real Madrid into the lead (LIV 2-3 RMA)

• 36 GOAL! - An error from Alisson gives Vinicius his second of the night (LIV 2-2 RMA)

• 30’ SAVE! - Alisson leaps across to deny Vinicius Jr (LIV 2-1 RMA)

• 21’ GOAL! - Vinicius Jr pulls one back for the visitors (LIV 2-1 RMA)

• 14’ GOAL! - Salah pounces on Courtois’ mistake (LIV 2-0 RMA)

• 4’ GOAL! - Nunez backheels Liverpool in the lead (LIV 1-0 RMA)

Liverpool FC 2 - 5 Real Madrid CF

FT Liverpool 2- 5 Real Madrid

22:00 , Michael Jones

Full-time: Liverpool 2- 5 Real Madrid

21:57 , Michael Jones

90+3 mins: It’s all over at Anfield. Real Madrid seal an exceptional comeback to hammer Liverpool 5-2 away from home. This is only the first leg so Liverpool are not out of the tie just yet.

But, they’ll need one of the greatest Champions League away wins if they’re going to get through this round.

Liverpool 2- 5 Real Madrid

21:52 , Michael Jones

90 mins: Three minutes off stoppage time to play at the end of this game. Liverpool want to finish this match now. It’s been a bruising night for them after being 2-0 up in the first half.

Real Madrid have been brilliant since Vinicius Jr score his first goal.

Liverpool 2- 5 Real Madrid

21:50 , Michael Jones

88 mins: Karim Benzema (six) and Vinucius Jr (five) are the players to have scored the most goals against Liverpool in European Cup or Champions League history.

Both have scored braces tonight alone.

Liverpool 2- 5 Real Madrid

21:47 , Michael Jones

85 mins: Harvey Elliott replaces Stefan Bajcetic in Liverpool’s midfield. Trent Alexander-Arnold swings a poor corner into the box but fails to beat the first Real Madrid defender.

The visitors seems to have things well in hand now. They’re taking a big lead back to the Bernabeu.

Liverpool 2- 5 Real Madrid

21:45 , Michael Jones

82 mins: Tough night for Liverpool. Around 10 minutes to go, can the Reds score again to limit the damage?

Liverpool 2- 5 Real Madrid

21:42 , Michael Jones

79 mins: Andy Robertson tries to get into the box down the left side but overhits the ball as he knocks it past Valverde. The ball slows up giving Robertson a bit of hope that he can keep it in play but Carvajal scoots across and marshalls it behind.

Liverpool 2- 5 Real Madrid

21:38 , Michael Jones

76 mins: Mo Salah flicks the ball down the right wing and sets James Milner up for a cross. He swings the ball in early and picks out Diogo Jota.

Jota seems caught in two minds whether to volley it or bring it down. He decides to control it but gets his first touch wrong and the ball bounces away from him.

Liverpool 2- 5 Real Madrid

21:35 , Michael Jones

73 mins: Jurgen Klopp needs to stem the flow without sacrificing his attacking qualities. Joel Matip and James Milner are introduced with Jordan Henderson and Joe Gomez taken off.

17 minutes to play at Anfield, is there a way back for Liverpool?

Liverpool 2- 5 Real Madrid

21:31 , Michael Jones

70 mins: Real Madrid have scored five goals without reply. It’s been a marvellous turnaround from the Spanish champions.

Liverpool have to double down now. They’ve got to try and score again to cut this deficit.

GOAL! Liverpool 2- 5 Real Madrid (Benzema, 67’)⚽️

21:29 , Michael Jones

67 mins: Incredible! Liverpool are caught in the centre of the pitch with Luka Modric shrugging off the young Stefan Bajcetic. He plays the ball off to Vinicius Jr who carries to the edge of the box before slipping it inside to Karim Benzema.

Benzema sits down Alisson and slots his left-footed finish into the back of the net!

Liverpool 2- 4 Real Madrid

21:25 , Michael Jones

64 mins: Antonio Rudiger comes flying onto a long-range shot when Liverpool attempt to clear their lines. The former Chelsea defender strikes it well but pulls the effort slightly to the left of goal.

Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino are now introduced for Liverpool with Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez taken off.

Liverpool 2- 4 Real Madrid

21:21 , Michael Jones

61 mins: VAR takes a look at a potential penalty for Liverpool. Cody Gakpo whips a cross in from the left and hits Carvajal on the arm.

The video referee takes a long look at the incident but decides that it was a deliberate handball from the defender so Liverpool don’t win the penalty.

Liverpool 2- 4 Real Madrid

21:19 , Michael Jones

58 mins: Real Madrid came back from two goals down in the first half and now the onus is on Liverpool to do the same in the second. The Reds certainly need to score the next goal if they want to get back into the game.

GOAL! Liverpool 2- 4 Real Madrid (Benzema, 55’)⚽️

21:18 , Michael Jones

55 mins: Dani Carvajal knocks the ball down the right wing for Rodrygo. He brings it into the box and links up with Karim Benzema who curls a left footed shot at goal.

Alisson seems to have it covered but ball hits Joe Gomez and deflects into the back of the net after wrongfooting the goalkeeper. Madrid now lead by two.

Liverpool 2- 3 Real Madrid

21:15 , Michael Jones

53 mins: Close! Stefan Bajcetic switches the play with a cross field pass over to Mo Salah. He dinks it forward to Trent Alexander-Arnold who whips an early cross over to the far side of the penalty area.

Darwin Nunez looks to be arriving for the header but gets a push in the back from Dani Carvajal. Nunez goes down as the ball bounces over his head hoping for a penalty.

The referee plays on and VAR doesn’t even check the incident.

Liverpool 2- 3 Real Madrid

21:12 , Michael Jones

50 mins: Now Liverpool have things to think about. Do they settle for a one goal deficit and try to win the tie at the Bernabeu or run the risk of going further behind in an attempt to win the game here?

It’s got to be the second option surely. Real Madrid’s defence has been ropey tonight, then again so has Liverpool’s.

GOAL! Liverpool 2- 3 Real Madrid (Militao, 47’)⚽️

21:09 , Michael Jones

47 mins: Joe Gomez is penalised for a foul on Vinicius just outside the Liverpool penalty area. Luka Modric stands over the free kick then fires a pacey cross into the middle of the box.

Eder Militao makes a run inside from the far post and whacks a bullet header past Alisson to send the visitors in front!

Second half: Liverpool 2- 2 Real Madrid

21:07 , Michael Jones

No changes from either manager at the half-time break. Liverpool get the ball rolling once more. If the next 45 minutes are as exciting as the first 45 then we’ll be in for a barnstorming second half.

Can Liverpool get themselves in front again?

HT Liverpool 2- 2 Real Madrid

21:04 , Michael Jones

Darwin Núñez’s goal after three minutes and 10 seconds was Liverpool’s quickest ever UEFA Champions League goal scored at Anfield.

HT Liverpool 2- 2 Real Madrid

21:01 , Michael Jones

Mo Salah has scored 44 goals in the Champions League, joint-highest tally for an African player in the competition’s history (level with Didier Drogba).

HT Liverpool 2- 2 Real Madrid

20:58 , Michael Jones

... before Vinicius Jr struck twice to bring Real Madrid level again.

HT Liverpool 2- 2 Real Madrid

20:55 , Michael Jones

Darwin Nunez and Mo Salah sent Liverpool two goals to the good after jiust 14 minutes...

Half-time: Liverpool 2- 2 Real Madrid

20:50 , Michael Jones

45+3 mins: Everybody breathe.

That was an incredible 45 minutes and we’re just a quarter of the way through this last-16 tie. Liverpool went two goals in front before a brace from Vinicius Jr clawed things back for Real Madrid.

Both goalkeepers have made mistakes as well as brilliant saves. Expect more of the same in the second half, neither team will want to let this slip.

Liverpool 2- 2 Real Madrid

20:48 , Michael Jones

45 mins: The Red take the free kick quickly and string together a few passes before giving the ball to Stefan Bajcetic. He sends the ball forward and wins another free kick after Luka Modric is punished for handball.

Trent Alexander-Arnold takes it and whips a shot around the wall but sends it straight into the hands of Thibaut Courtois.

Three added minutes to play.

Liverpool 2- 2 Real Madrid

20:46 , Michael Jones

42 mins: Joe Gomez chests down a long clearance from Thibaut Courtois and drives through the middle of the pitch. He’s brought down by a lunging Valverde and wins a free kick.

Liverpool 2- 2 Real Madrid

20:42 , Michael Jones

39 mins: All square then. Real Madrid did this so many times last season. They were heading out at each stage of the Champions League knockout rounds but somehow pulled it back each time and eventually won the whole tourament.

GOAL! Liverpool 2- 2 Real Madrid (Vinicius Jr, 36’)⚽️

20:40 , Michael Jones

36 mins: Courtois made the error earlier in the game and now it’s Alisson’s turn. Federico Valverde slides a through ball up the pitch in an attempt to match Vinicius Jr’s run.

Joe Gomez gets in front of the forward and simply knocks the ball back to Alisson. Vinicius continues his run as Alisson looks to send the ball back to Gomez.

He goes to play the pass but hits it straight at the Real Madrid forward. Vinicius has no idea what’s happening but the ball hits him, loops into the air and drops into the back of the net!

Liverpool 2- 1 Real Madrid

20:36 , Michael Jones

33 mins: Liverpool are electric up top tonight. They’re not giving Real Madrid an inch to play in on the edge of their own penalty area.

Gakpo, Nunez and Salah are working really hard to find spaces to shoot as well as winning the ball back when Real take over possession.

Liverpool 2- 1 Real Madrid

20:34 , Michael Jones

30 mins: Save! Luka Modric whips a corner into the middle of the box and a flick on brings the ball over to Vinicius Jr on the left side of the area.

He brings the ball under control and rolls it onto his right foot. It’s almost the exact same angle from where he scored and his shot fizzes through the cluster of the bodies in front of him.

Alisson sees it late but leaps across to his left and makes a brilliant save with his outstretched left hand!

Liverpool 2- 1 Real Madrid

20:29 , Michael Jones

27 mins: More bad news for Real Madrid as David Alaba stayed down following that skirmish inside his own six-yard area. The left-back goes off the pitch after a bit of treatment from the physios. Nacho is the man to replace him.

Liverpool 2- 1 Real Madrid

20:28 , Michael Jones

25 mins: How has that not gone in? Jordan Henderson makes an overlapping run on the right wing and is slipped into the box. He pulls the ball back to Mo Salah who can’t find enough space to get a shot off.

Real’s defenders throw themselves in front of the ball and it pinballs around the six-yard box. Cody Gakpo has a chance to turn it home but his effort is blocked too before Madrid eventually hoof it away.

Liverpool 2- 1 Real Madrid

20:26 , Michael Jones

24 mins: This looks to be developing into a match full of goals. Real Madrid only know one way to play which is to attack their opponents until the full-time whistle goes.

Liverpool know they need to win this game with as big of a margin as possible. This match won’t finish 2-1.

GOAL! Liverpool 2- 1 Real Madrid (Vinicius Jr, 21’)⚽️

20:24 , Michael Jones

21 mins: Brilliant response! Real Madrid bring the ball down the left wing and give it to Karim Benzema on the edge of the box.

He flicks it inside to Vinicius Jr who shifts it to the right of Joe Gomez and curls a powerful strike past Alisson to get the visitors back into this match.

Liverpool 2- 0 Real Madrid

20:21 , Michael Jones

18 mins: Things have gone from good to great for Liverpool. This has been a blistering start and Real Madrid have a lot of work to do. They just need to calm this match down a little.

Liverpool are flying at present.

GOAL! Liverpool 2- 0 Real Madrid (Salah, 14’)⚽️

20:19 , Michael Jones

14 mins: That’s a shocker from Thibaut Courtois. Liverpool recover the ball in midfield and push up the pitch. A loose through pass sends the ball into the box for the Real goalkeeper who miscontrols it.

Mo Salah presses high searching for an opportunity and when the ball bobbles away from Courtois he’s on hand to poke the ball past him and into the back of the net.

Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid

20:17 , Michael Jones

13 mins: Oh my! Liverpool come close to adding a second. Darwin Nunez is forced to hold up the ball inside his own half under pressure from two Real attackers.

He manages to work the ball out to Cody Gakpo who drives through the middle of the pitch before releasing the ball to Mo Salah.

Salah dribbles into the right side of the box, cuts inside of the first defender then slots his effort wide of the target!

Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid

20:15 , Michael Jones

11 mins: Chance! It’s Real’s turn to attack now as Liverpool give the ball away inside their own final third. The Spanish giants quickly work the ball across to Rodrygo who smokes one from just inside the penalty area but has his effort blocked.

Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid

20:10 , Michael Jones

7 mins: This is a brilliant start from Liverpool who will now be targeting at least one more goal before the end of the night. They’ll know that they need as big of a lead as possible before making the trip to the Bernabeu.

Fabinho gets forward on the right side and is clipped just outside the box. He goes down and the referee takes a moment before letting play go on.

GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid (Nunez, 4’)⚽️

20:08 , Michael Jones

4 mins: What a finish! Cody Gakpo drives through the middle of the pitch but gets tackled and loses the ball. It bounces back to Stefan Bajcetic who passes it over to Jordan Henderson.

Henderson sends the ball into the feet of Mo Salah who guides a through ball over to the six-yard area.

Darwin Nunez mkaes his run in behind Antonio Rudiger before meeting the pass with an outrageous backheel flick that fizzes past Thibaut Courtois and sends Liverpool ahead.

Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid

20:05 , Michael Jones

3 mins: Nearly! Eduardo Camavinga loses possession deep in his own half and the ball rolls over to Jordan Henderson. He threads it into the penalty area for Cody Gakpo arriving from the left.

Mo Salah is wide open on the other side of the box but Gakpo slips as he tries to play the pass and knocks it to the nearest defender who boots it clear.

Kick off: Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid

20:03 , Michael Jones

It’s the visitors who get the match started at Anfield. Real Madrid are attacking the Kop end in this half. Already the noise inside Anfield is booming.

After a few weeks of inconsistent results the home fans are up for this one tonight.

Liverpool vs Real Madrid

19:57 , Michael Jones

Here come the teams.

Tonight’s last-16 clash is a repeat of the 2022 Champions League final. Real Madrid were victorious on that occasion despite Liverpool dominating the majority of the match.

With the backing of Anfield behind them can the Reds get one over the Spanish champions tonight?

Liverpool vs Real Madrid

19:54 , Michael Jones

Warm-ups are done and dusted. Can Liverpool beat Real Madrid tonight and take an advantage into the second leg at the Bernabeu?

Liverpool vs Real Madrid

19:51 , Michael Jones

Liverpool’s Mo Salah has scored 43 goals in the Champions League.

If the Egyptian scores tonight, he will equal Chelsea and Ivory Coast legend Didier Drogba (44) as the top-scoring African player in the competition.

Liverpool vs Real Madrid

19:48 , Michael Jones

Jurgen Klopp has lost 5 of his 10 Champions League games against Real Madrid (W3 D2), more than against any other opponent.

The German has also lost to Carlo Ancelotti four times in their 7 meetings in the competition (W2 D1), also his highest record of defeats.

Liverpool vs Real Madrid

19:45 , Michael Jones

Jurgen Klopp’s men have won 15 of their last 19 fixtures in Europe, with one draw and three defeats. They are two goals away from reaching 150 in the Champions League during the tenure of Klopp.

This will be his 66th fixture.

Liverpool vs Real Madrid

19:40 , Michael Jones

This is the eighth successive campaign in which Liverpool have faced a side from Spain.

It is the Reds’ 52nd meeting with a Spanish opponent – their highest number against clubs from any single nation.

Liverpool are aiming to record a third successive home win over Spanish opposition for the first time in their history, following victories last season against Atletico Madrid and Villarreal.

‘Nothing in the world could justify that’: Jurgen Klopp decries racist abuse of Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr

19:35 , Michael Jones

Jurgen Klopp said there is no excuse for the racist abuse Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior has repeatedly faced in Spain and said it would be “insane” to try and justify it.

The Brazil winger has been accused of provocation by opposing fans and players with his trickery on the ball and dancing celebrations, but Klopp said that is no reason to treat him in such a way.

The Liverpool manager said: “That he is doing something on the pitch that could cause it? There is nothing in the world that could justify that. Imagine if I say yes, that would be completely insane.”

‘Nothing in the world could justify that’: Klopp decries racist abuse of Vinicius Jr

Liverpool vs Real Madrid

19:30 , Michael Jones

Liverpool are winless in their last six matches against Real Madrid, drawing one and losing five. Those five defeats include the 2018 and 2022 finals.

The Reds had actually won their previous three meetings between 1981 and 2009.

Liverpool vs Real Madrid

19:25 , Michael Jones

If Jordan Henderson features he will enter the list of the Reds’ top 10 appearance makers in Europe, joining Phil Neal on 74 matches.

Liverpool owner John W Henry insists FSG are not selling Premier League club

19:20 , Michael Jones

Liverpool owner John W Henry said the Merseyside club is not for sale now.

Henry and Fenway Sports Group had revealed in November that the club was on the market but now it is more likely they get a minority investor. The American consortium are in talks with possible partners.

FSG bought Liverpool for £300 million in 2010 and may have been looking for £4 billion to sell the club but, unlike Manchester United, they are not thought to have received any concrete offers and will now concentrate on finding someone to purchase a smaller share of the club.

Henry told the Boston Sports Journal: “I know there has been a lot of conversation and quotes about LFC, but I keep to the facts: we merely formalised an ongoing process.

“Will we be in England forever? No. Are we selling LFC? No. Are talking with investors about LFC? Yes. Will something happen there? I believe so, but it won’t be a sale. Have we sold anything in the past 20-plus years?”

Liverpool owner insists FSG are not selling Premier League club

Liverpool not for sale

19:15 , Michael Jones

Liverpool owner John Henry says he is not selling the club despite considering the option last year. Henry’s Fenway Sports Group (FSG), which bought Liverpool in 2010, said in November it “would consider new shareholders” in the Reds.

FSG chairman Tom Werner later said the club’s owners were “exploring a sale” but could continue their “stewardship for quite a while”.

“Are we selling LFC? No,” Henry told the Boston Sports Journal. “Are talking with investors about LFC? Yes. Will something happen there? I believe so, but it won’t be a sale.”

Salah closing on Liverpool record

19:10 , Michael Jones

Mo Salah is one goal away from becoming Liverpool’s outright top scorer of all time in European competition.

Currently level with Steven Gerrard on 41, the Egyptian will move clear in the history books if he nets in Tuesday night’s Champions League tie with Real Madrid at Anfield.

Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo relishing chance to prove himself in the Champions League

19:05 , Michael Jones

Liverpool’s January signing Cody Gakpo admits he still has to prove himself in the Champions League.

The 23-year-old may have played in a World Cup quarter-final against eventual champions Argentina but his experience in Europe’s elite club competition extends to just seven minutes in one substitute appearance in a group-stage draw against Tottenham in October 2018.

Gakpo had struggled with his form since arriving from PSV Eindhoven for an initial £37m last month – not helped by Liverpool’s struggles on the pitch as a team – but the Netherlands international has now scored in back-to-back matches against Everton and Newcastle.

And his first Champions League start could be in the last-16, first-leg tie at home to Real Madrid.

Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo relishing chance to prove himself in the Champions League

Liverpool’s previous defeats

19:00 , Michael Jones

Liverpool have bad memories of facing Real Madrid in the Champions League:

2022 - Real Madrid beat Liverpool 2-0 in the final.

2021 - Real Madrid beat Liverpool 3-1 on aggregate in the quarters.

2018 - Real Madrid beat Liverpool 3-1 in the final.

2014 - Real Madrid beat Liverpool 3-0 and 1-0 in the group stages.

Can the Reds finally get one over on the Spanish champions tonight?

Liverpool vs Real Madrid

18:55 , Michael Jones

Tonight’s venue. Can Real Madrid win away from home?

Klopp on Ancelotti

18:50 , Michael Jones

Jurgen Klopp also spoke about Carlo Ancelotti in the build-up to tonight’s match and called him the ‘most relaxed manager’ he’s ever met.

“Somebody told me – I don’t even know if it is true or not – that Carlo said after the final, ‘Liverpool was cool that day, they know exactly what they will face’ – after the final, before the final, I don’t know exactly.” said Klopp when reminiscing about Liverpool’s defeat in the 2022 Champions League final.

“But I watched the game back now, even with knowing exactly what we will do – we have to win this game. We didn’t for the one reason: that we didn’t score and conceded. But apart from that, we should have won this game.

“Carlo is the most relaxed manager I ever met in my life, one of the best people you can meet – fantastic person, humble person, super-smart and nice.

“Obviously his man-management is a completely different level to all of us and I respect that a lot, I admire that a lot. So yes, with this world-class team, which they were last year, brought in super-exciting young players.

“Maybe [they] struggle a bit in the league – I don’t know if you can call that struggling, but Barcelona is just a few points ahead – but apart from that, they are always super, super-competitive and super-difficult to beat.

“So, this combination is a difficult one – that’s true – but I think it makes absolute sense to try it anyway.”

Carlo Ancelotti says Real Madrid’s Vinicius is fully focused on Liverpool game

18:45 , Michael Jones

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti believes Vinicius Jr is fully focused on football despite being targeted with racist abuse, and backed him to show his quality against Liverpool once again on Tuesday.

The Brazil international, who has scored three goals in his last three meetings with Jurgen Klopp’s side – including the winner in May’s Champions League final – has found himself the subject of sickening insults in Spain.

It has included a mannequin wearing the player’s shirt being hung from a bridge outside Madrid’s training ground last month. But Ancelotti has backed the 22-year-old to overcome the abuse and elevate himself into the top echelon of world football.

Carlo Ancelotti says Real Madrid’s Vinicius is fully focused on Liverpool game

Liverpool vs Real Madrid team news

18:40 , Michael Jones

There are no changes for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool who names the same team that defeated Newcastle in their last outing.

Carlo Ancelotti makes two changes to the Real Madrid team that defeated Osasuna in La Liga last time out. Dani Ceballos and Nacho drop out with Dani Carvajal and Karim Benzema brought back in.

Liverpool line-up

18:37 , Michael Jones

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Bajcetic, Henderson, Salah, Nunez, Gakpo

Group stage round-up

18:35 , Michael Jones

Real Madrid were never in any danger of losing their group this year.

They opened their campaign with three consecutive victories against Celtic, RB Leipzig and Shakhtar Donetsk before a draw with the Ukranian side effectively sealed their progression to the knockout stages.

Leipzig defeated Real on the fifth matchday in a 3-2 thriller but Carlo Ancelotti’s men secured the top spot in Group F with a resounding 5-1 thrashing of Celtic in the final group game.

Things were trickier for Liverpool. A 4-1 defeat to Napoli in their opening group game meant that Jurgen Klopp’s men were not only searching for wins but big ones at that.

After four consecutive victories, against Ajax and Rangers (home and away), the Reds notched up an impressive goal difference but Napoli matched them every step of the way.

The final group game was played between the two teams with Liverpool needing to win 4-0 to overtake the Italian side at the top for Group A. Klopp’s side could only manage a 2-0 victory which sent them through to the knockout stages in second place and means they now have to face Real Madrid in the last-16.

Liverpool vs Real Madrid

18:30 , Michael Jones

The last time Liverpool defeated Real Madrid at Anfield, Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard (x2) and Andrea Dossena all scored in a 4-0 romp for the home side.

Here are the highlights from that game in 2009:

Jurgen Klopp on facing Real Madrid

18:25 , Michael Jones

Liverpool have a bit of history with Real Madrid. They have not beaten the Spanish giants in six games, two of which were Champions League finals.

Jurgen Klopp was asked whether Liverpool’s poor run of form against Madrid would come into play tonight and he replied:

“Different things happened to us with Real Madrid. If you want, to me; at Dortmund I had already a Real Madrid story. One of the biggest clubs in the world, one of the most successful clubs for sure, won this competition I don’t know how often. Super-experienced.

“In our own story, just recently if you want, we played this final in Paris and I didn’t watch it back since then – until this weekend. The thing I realised immediately: now I know why I didn’t watch it back. But I had to and it was proper torture because we played a good game and we could have won the game, and that’s the decisive word: we could. We didn’t, they scored the decisive goal and we didn’t, that was the reason.

“You could see in this game how experienced Madrid is, how little they are fussed when the other team has chances. They don’t lose confidence in one second, they know, ‘Our chance will come’, they are there for that and they defend with legs, deep defending together. So, this is this team and that’s the competition and that’s what you can learn from them, definitely.

“But that’s seven, eight months ago. Before that, the last time when they knocked us out, we played there on the training ground and here in an empty stadium. Here the game was really good, it was a really good 0-0 where we let them run, let me say it like this, we let them work hard for the money and that was good.

“But this is now different teams. Same clubs, different teams, different times. There’s a history. In the last few years one of us was kind of always in the final, that’s how it feels at least.

“And usually if you want to go to the final it’s always you have to kick us out or them. This time we play each other, so let’s see who can go through.”

The ‘proper torture’ Jurgen Klopp endured to prepare for Real Madrid rematch

18:20 , Michael Jones

Jurgen Klopp subjected himself to a video nasty recently, watching back one of Liverpool’s defeats. “It was proper torture,” he said. He was not talking about the 2023 losses to Brentford, Brighton and Wolves, matches that could rank among the worst of his reign at Liverpool.

Instead, the torturous element was the sense that his side did a lot right. Reliving the 2022 Champions League final for the first time was a different sort of agony. “We played a good game and could have won the game – and that’s the decisive word because we could but didn’t, because they scored and we didn’t, and that’s the decisive reason,” he said.

Klopp, the great proponent of heavy-metal football, watched it with the sound off, immersed in his thoughts, sat on his own. “Unfortunately,” he said. “There was a feeling of here and there and with an extra spark we could have made this thing [happen].”

He felt his team were too cautious at times. “We did not take enough risks in little moments, we were not adventurous enough,” he explained. With a bit more boldness, Liverpool could have pulled off a historic cup treble.

Instead, he remains a one-time Champions League winner. It puts him three behind the nonpareil Carlo Ancelotti. A rematch with Real Madrid may not be a revenge mission, but it feels like a clash of opposites. Perhaps Real are Liverpool’s kryptonite.

Klopp’s brand of football, after all, is based on the speed and intensity to create chaos. And then there is Real, the veterans who play the game at their own pace, who seem utterly unworried when trailing or dominated, a side with the personality of the managerial king of cool.

The ‘proper torture’ Jurgen Klopp endured to prepare for Real Madrid rematch

Liverpool vs Real Madrid prediction

18:15 , Michael Jones

Saturday’s performance against Newcastle will provide Jurgen Klopp’s side with a much-needed confidence boost ahead of this crunch tie.

Stefan Bajcetic will face a huge task in central midfield against vastly experienced opposition, while Liverpool’s defence will have to work hard against a pacy and clinical Real Madrid front line.

Ultimately, these fine margins might make the difference in this clash between two European heavyweights.

Liverpool 1- 2 Real Madrid.

Real Madrid starting line-up

18:13 , Michael Jones

Real Madrid XI: Courtois, Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Alaba, Camavinga, Modric, Valverde, Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinicius Jr

Liverpool vs Real Madrid predicted line-ups

18:10 , Michael Jones

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Bajcetic, Fabinho, Henderson; Salah, Gakpo, Jota

Real Madrid: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Alaba; Ceballos, Modric, Valverde; Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinicius Junior

What is the early team news?

18:05 , Michael Jones

Luis Diaz, Ibrahima Konate, Thiago Alcantara and Calvin Ramsay are confirmed absentees for Liverpool. Arthur Melo remains a doubt as he continues to recover from a long-term thigh injury which hasn’t seen the midfielder play since Liverpool’s 4-1 loss to Napoli in the group stages.

Nunez was forced off before the hour mark against Newcastle on the weekend with a shoulder injury, with Klopp saying there is “a chance” the Uruguayan will feature in Tuesday’s clash.

The visitors will be without Mariano Diaz and Ferland Mendy with the pair out with long-term injuries. Ancelotti confirmed that Dani Carvajal has fully recovered from a lingering muscle injury and will be available while neither Toni Kroos nor Aurelien Tchouameni will feature having missed Madrid’s weekend game through illness.

Karim Benzema also missed the game against Osasuna but is also expected to return for the midweek fixture.

How to watch Liverpool vs Real Madrid

18:00 , Michael Jones

The match will kick off at 8pm on Tuesday, 21 January at Anfield.

The match will be available for fans to watch on BT Sport 1 and BT Sport Ultimate. Coverage starts on both at 7pm.

Liverpool vs Real Madrid

16:46 , Michael Jones

Good evening and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of tonight’s Champions League action as Liverpool host Real Madrid in the first leg of their last-16 clash.

This fixture kicks off at 8pm and is a repeat of the 2022 final when Madrid defeated Liverpool 1-0 in Paris thanks to Vinicius Junior’s second half strike. Thibaut Courtois was named player of the match that night due to his incredible display between the sticks and he’ll be hoping to repeat that performance at Anfield tonight.

Real Madrid have had an indifferent campaign in La Liga this season - for their standards anyway - and find themselves trailing Barcelona by eight points in the league. That means Carlo Ancelotti is likely to focus on European football as Madrid’s best chance of collecting silverware. They’re unbeaten in six matches against Liverpool, last losing to the Reds in March 2009, and will be confident of defeating Jurgen Klopp’s men once again.

Liverpool’s domestic season has been equally underwhelming. They are eighth in the Premier League and trying to get into the race for the top four but only a run of victories will see them achieve that. Another possibility of securing European football next season is by winning the Champions League. That won’t be easy but Klopp’s team have won back-to-back games for the first time this year and have built a bit of momentum going into their biggest match of 2023 so far. Can they finally defeat Real Madrid?