Liverpool

Sports Mole previews Tuesday's Champions League clash between Liverpool and Real Madrid, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

[Diogo Jota](/people/diogo-jota/) and [Roberto Firmino](/people/roberto-firmino/) will engage in a fierce battle to complete the attack, and the former may win that head-to-head if Klopp opts to deploy Gakpo centrally again. [Jurgen Klopp](/people/jurgen-klopp/)'s crop placed second in Group A behind Italian powerhouses Napoli to set up a reunion with the holders, who beat Celtic, Shakhtar Donetsk and RB Leipzig to first place in Group F. [Liverpool](/football/liverpool/) and [Real Madrid](/football/real-madrid/) serve up a repeat of the 2021-22 [Champions League](/football/champions-league/) final when they renew hostilities at Anfield on Tuesday for the first leg of their last-16 tie.

Liverpool will face Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League in the Round of 16. Here are the previews for both the teams.

- The Scousers managed to beat Real Madrid in their first three European matches. Konate and Luis Diaz are confirmed absentees for the match. His best ever and to mention, and he also scored the only goal against Liverpool in the UCL final. Real Madrid on the other hand are still holding up quite well. Gakpo is also starting to find form in the Premier League after scoring in the past 2 games. The Scousers are in desperate need for some signings as well.

Nunez and Gakpo on target in 2-0 win over 10-man Newcastle at St James' Park.

Pope made a total mess of his attempt, though, and then grabbed the ball with his hand in what looked like an inadvertent reflex. A rampant Liverpool were already two goals up by the time Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope was sent off in the 22nd minute for a straight red card after handling the ball outside the area. Gakpo, who joined from PSV Eindhoven in January, netted his first Liverpool goal on Monday in the 2-0 win over Everton.

Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp has been speaking about a player struggling for minutes since the Premier League returned after the World Cup.

He might not yet be a 'typical 'Jürgen Klopp player' but in time, he can become one. In many ways, his admissions should not come as a surprise given how the German boss nurtured the likes of established names like Fabinho, "That doesn’t help a lot, but that’s another thing in a long career that you have to go through. Those with longer memories will recall that the trio featured only sparingly during the early months of their Anfield careers while they adapted to Klopp's demands. [Manchester City ](https://www.liverpool.com/all-about/manchester-city-fc)in the League Cup back in December, during a hotly contested encounter where the Reds were unlucky to have been beaten. That said, given the player's tender age, Carvalho certainly has time on his side to become an asset for the Reds. In the moment you cannot see that on the pitch or when I see him, it’s not really obvious, but I can imagine. Of course, the hallmarks of what truly constitutes a typical 'Jürgen Klopp player' are not necessarily set in stone. In short, Carvalho seemingly is still yet to convince Klopp that he merits a run in his side and, as such, has featured for just three minutes in the Premier League since October. It has been a mixed start to life at Liverpool for starlet Fábio Carvalho since his move from Fulham in the summer. Following the loss to Brentford last month, the Liverpool legend namechecked Carvalho, saying that alongside Harvey Elliott, he did not appear to him to look like a typical 'Jürgen Klopp player'. The youngster has averaged an impressive 0.37 goals per 90 during what has been a largely tumultuous campaign for Liverpool so far, having started a total of eight games.

Liverpool ended Newcastle United's long unbeaten run in the Premier League through early goals by Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo that gave them a 2-0 victory ...

Newcastle responded well and were denied by a mixture of the woodwork and Alisson, but the damage was already done. Pope was caught out of his goal by a long clearance from his opposite number Alisson and ended up grabbing the ball with his hand well outside of his penalty area. Juergen Klopp’s side caught Newcastle cold with a scintillating start, and the stunned hosts were reduced to 10 men in the 22nd minute when goalkeeper Nick Pope was red-carded.

Liverpool have the chance to avenge the 1-0 loss to Real in the final in Paris last May and go into the first leg in much-improved form.

If it is to stand a chance of going far in the competition, much could rely on Romelu Lukaku staying fit and getting his goal-scoring form back. The City manager is still waiting to win his first Champions League title with a team other than Barcelona featuring It faces Eintracht Frankfurt away on Tuesday on the back of a five-game winning run. A 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest on Saturday saw Arsenal overtake City at the top of the table and highlighted vulnerabilities that have been evident for much of the season. The Champions League is the one major trophy City has failed to win since being taken over by Abu Dhabi’s ruling family in 2008. But it faces a fight to hold onto its Spanish league title, with Barcelona leading the way at the top of the standings.

Liverpool made it back-to-back Premier League wins by defeating Newcastle 2-0 at St James' Park on Saturday evening to add to the renewed positivity around ...

They will now turn their attention to hosting [Real Madrid](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/real-madrid-cf) in the first leg of their [Champions League](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/champions-league) last-16 tie on Tuesday. We could have done better, but there is a reason why we are the only team to win here.” In the moment is it painful, but hopefully it’s just painful and not more." [Nick Pope](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/nick-pope) was then sent off in the 22nd minute for handballing outside his area to prevent Mohamed Salah having a goalscoring opportunity. “But this feels a little bit different. Klopp said the Uruguayan striker would have to be assessed before Liverpool would know when he might return. "In the end, he had to go off with a shoulder issue. “We will see. In that situation I don’t know what he [the referee] whistled there against him, to be honest. [Liverpool](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/liverpool-fc) have now won back-to-back Premier League games, against [Everton](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/everton-fc) and [Newcastle](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/newcastle-united-fc), to move back into contention for the top four. [Read the talking points from the match.](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/newcastle-liverpool-score-goals-highlights-29250648) [a solid 2-0 win over Newcastle](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/newcastle-liverpool-score-goals-highlights-29250648) left Jurgen Klopp’s side just six points short of the [Premier League](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/premier-league) top four with a game in hand.

Liverpool injury news: Latest updates as four Reds men are set to miss the Champions League game with Real Madrid, with Jürgen Klopp sweating over Darwin ...

His experience in these sorts of matches could have been vital. Here’s how things are shaping up ahead of Tuesday night when Real Madrid will be in town. It is a good job, then, that Fabinho and [Diogo Jota](https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=015440420724022033189%3Aygf0ckf-78m&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpool.com%2Fliverpool-fc-news%2Ffeatures%2Fliverpool-transfer-fsg-diogo-jota-26103563&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiproaA0aH9AhVLQ_EDHTk1AxQQFnoECAEQAg&usg=AOvVaw1vyV51Kk-bnsBVtwOKySyu) and [Roberto Firmino](https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=015440420724022033189%3Aygf0ckf-78m&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpool.com%2Fliverpool-fc-news%2Ffeatures%2Fcody-gakpo-roberto-firmino-liverpool-26242982&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwibuq6H0aH9AhWRTqQEHafiAEcQFnoECAgQAg&usg=AOvVaw0nag4xC60KfFfVj2ktMFrk) now back, Liverpool does have options in attack but having the Colombian forward back would be a big addition to the squad — he was, after all, the best Reds player before his initial setback. [Joël Matip](https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=015440420724022033189%3Aygf0ckf-78m&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpool.com%2Fliverpool-fc-news%2Ffeatures%2Fliverpool-transfer-talks-joel-matip-26272423&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiV2crf0qH9AhVOVqQEHUGoBiMQFnoECAcQAg&usg=AOvVaw1qSp9G1FRkTE02hZdgwlAC) in the greatest of form. [Virgil van Dijk](https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=015440420724022033189%3Aygf0ckf-78m&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpool.com%2Fliverpool-fc-news%2Ffeatures%2Fliverpool-news-van-dijk-merseyside-26269995&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjXscPl0qH9AhUBUaQEHaeDC8IQFnoECAMQAg&usg=AOvVaw1Qh6oUTtLyMZ6f19AukfcS) when he returns, with the current best two Liverpool center-backs clear. [Jordan Henderson](https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=015440420724022033189%3Aygf0ckf-78m&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpool.com%2Fliverpool-fc-news%2Ffeatures%2Fliverpool-jordan-henderson-jurgen-klopp-25230205&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiE6Y370qH9AhUFVqQEHTu3Cl0QFnoECAIQAg&usg=AOvVaw1lQLVS5PkUUB-sa4b4lkTx) have started to look more like themselves and [Stefan Bajčetić](https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=015440420724022033189%3Aygf0ckf-78m&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpool.com%2Fliverpool-fc-news%2Ffeatures%2Fliverpool-stefan-bajcetic-real-madrid-26096727&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiTioSB06H9AhXVTaQEHYPNDYAQFnoECAkQAg&usg=AOvVaw14U7pD-xkgrU-MwddqVU6o) has been impressing. [Everton](https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=015440420724022033189%3Aygf0ckf-78m&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpool.com%2Fliverpool-fc-news%2Ffeatures%2Fliverpool-everton-cody-gakpo-klopp-26230592&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwj305bq1KH9AhXUTKQEHWOcBbsQFnoECAAQAg&usg=AOvVaw0pWwHMNe0_wKUNcwBExk7z) and [Newcastle United](https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=015440420724022033189%3Aygf0ckf-78m&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpool.com%2Fschedule%2Fliverpool-news-newcastle-1996-highlights-16908010&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjVoqPx1KH9AhUpUKQEHYjLC4EQFnoECAkQAg&usg=AOvVaw3g4t0lQ1Gw6xShSfbjix86) in the space of six days to turn around their Premier League fortunes and give themselves some hope in the top-four race, things feel a little different for Klopp and his players. [Real Madrid](https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=015440420724022033189%3Aygf0ckf-78m&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpool.com%2Fliverpool-fc-news%2Ffeatures%2Fancelotti-liverpool-real-madrid-doubts-26262697&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiKm4Tk1KH9AhWsVqQEHdRMDoMQFnoECAMQAg&usg=AOvVaw14s_8CheWqgPr3dZnRqXhO) might be lagging behind [Barcelona](https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=015440420724022033189%3Aygf0ckf-78m&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpool.com%2Fliverpool-fc-news%2Ftransfer-news%2Fliverpool-transfer-salah-contract-barcelona-22218196&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwj4_dX41KH9AhXaHcAKHba4AGIQFnoECAMQAg&usg=AOvVaw1UbGlTfnnNzAGNVJmErG-w) in the Spanish top flight, but this is their competition — the one in which they always seem to somehow find a way to win. The Spanish midfielder is set to be missing for a 'while' with a hip injury and will not be playing against Real Madrid. He would almost certainly not have played a minute against Real Madrid anyway, but could have been useful, for sure, across the rest of the season — after his surgery, though, he will not be in action again until the summer. [Anfield](https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=015440420724022033189%3Aygf0ckf-78m&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpool.com%2Fliverpool-fc-news%2Ffeatures%2Fliverpool-anfield-road-development-pictures-26214995&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiXoc__1KH9AhUyQaQEHV6CB3IQFnoECAkQAg&usg=AOvVaw22Yxm1AZvw124weDjezl_Y)— the first leg, with the second game against the La Liga side scheduled for Wednesday, March 15 — comes at a time when Liverpool has found a little bit of form.

Darwin Nunez was the star of the moment as he opened the scoring in Liverpool's win over Newcastle. Post-match, Jurgen Klopp provided a worrying update.

We will have to see. [James Pearce on Twitter](https://twitter.com/jamespearcelfc/status/1627038359242547200?s=46&t=DG1CalM1UlloNHGSLbe7fA), Klopp refused to give a definitive answer to Nunez injury concerns. They’re the only team to beat Eddie Howe’s Magpies this season, and they’ve done it twice.

Four Reds players are among the five most transferred-in players for Double Gameweek 25.

[GW24 bonus points](https://www.premierleague.com/news/3067802) [Man Utd](premierleague.com/match/75177) and [Brentford](https://www.premierleague.com/match/74979). Watkins (AVL) £7.2m Rashford (MUN) £7.3m Odegaard (ARS) £7.0m Alexander-Arnold (LIV) £7.3m MID The midfielder has earned more than 91,000 new owners after scoring for the second match in a row. Alisson (LIV) £5.4m Saka (ARS) £8.4m Salah (LIV) £12.6m Gakpo (LIV) £7.7m

Jurgen Klopp and his players took a short-haul flight from Newcastle to Liverpool on Saturday night, rather than getting back on their team bus for the ...

It is probably a question for the whole of the Premier League. The club also [recently trumpeted](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/lfc-becomes-first-premier-league-club-be-sustainably-certified) the fact it had become the first Premier League club to be awarded the British Standards Institute certificate for sustainability. "How we fly to Premier League games is something to consider," he said after the Blues flew to Newcastle. [Newcastle](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/newcastle-united-fc) on Saturday night due to their congested fixture list. "We fly domestically – that’s also a challenge. "Whether it is right or wrong, I think it is pretty normal for a team, in the Premier League particularly, and for a lot of Championship teams, to fly distances like that," Forest manager Steve Cooper said. They plan to achieve this by offsetting their carbon emissions using verified low-carbon projects. The club does factor in environmental concerns when making travel decisions, with distance and cost the other main considerations. "This needs to stop, absolutely no excuses," said a third. "It's probably not just a question for Nottingham Forest. They were in the air for just 33 minutes before landing at 10.10pm. [fire](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/fire) for taking a 20-minute flight to Blackpool for an [FA Cup](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/fa-cup) tie, straight after they boasted of an agreement with energy company EON to "raise awareness of the climate crisis".

Champions League royalty go head-to-head when Liverpool hosts holder Real Madrid at Anfield. The two giants of European soccer meet in a repeat of last ...

It faces Eintracht Frankfurt away on Tuesday on the back of a five-game winning run. So much so that, up until the past week, winning the Champions League looked like its best chance of qualifying for next season's competition. But City has looked strong in the Champions League, cruising through the group stages and is the overwhelming favorite to win when it travels to RB Leipzig on Wednesday.