Welcome to another interesting article. So, we are going to cover the preview of the game against Liverpool tomorrow. A couple of things we’ll talk about in this post include the formation, lineups, and who we think should start. We’ll also discuss Güler, Luka Modric, and potential threats against us in tomorrow’s game. Let’s dive straight into the business of today. Read on.
Real Madrid’s Current Form
There are a couple of concerns ahead of the clash against Liverpool. They are obviously in very good form. First, let’s talk about the fact that we won the game 3–0 over the weekend. One of the keys to that win was Vinícius playing down the middle, looking like a prime Karim Benzema. He was sharp, receiving the ball under pressure and combining with teammates.
That’s why it’s concerning that Vini isn’t going to be playing this game. What kind of effect will that have on us out of possession? In many ways, having Vinícius and Mbappé on the pitch at the same time gives less balance without the ball. So, in theory, having Jude Bellingham play higher up to support Mbappé in transition may actually be a good thing. It might also provide a box presence with Jude playing higher up.
In today’s press conference, Jude mentioned that he doesn’t feel comfortable playing on the flank. Out of possession, we often play with a 4-4-2 where Jude shifts to the left-hand side to cover space before tucking in when the team recover the ball. However, it sounds like in this game, he’ll play more centrally. We saw how well he performed against Linares when positioned down the middle—it was his best game of the season so far.
Having Jude play in a central, offensive role is encouraging because that’s where he can influence the game the most. He’s one of the best players in the world in that position, both offensively and defensively.
Should Arda Güler Start Today’s Match?
Arda Güler was also impressive in our last game, especially after halftime, when adjustments were made. He moved inside rather than staying wide on the touchline, which allowed him to have more touches and take shots on target. Carlo likely instructed him to shift centrally to impact the game more.
The big question is whether Carlo will trust Güler given our injuries, or if he’ll rely on players he already trusts. Under Carlo, it’s hard to get minutes if you haven’t earned his trust yet. For instance, starting Luka Modric in a game like this might not be ideal.
When we revisited our last game against Liverpool at Anfield, Modric didn’t offer much defensively. Carlo had to switch Valverde and Modric after conceding two quick goals. Considering the physical demands of a game like this, Modric might be better utilized towards the end of the match when Liverpool is tired.
Expected Formation and Starting 11
Another consideration is Valverde potentially playing at right-back. Lucas Vázquez trained today, so Carlo might field him instead, allowing Valverde to play in midfield. Having Valverde in the middle is crucial for transitions and providing defensive support to our fullbacks against threats like Salah.
Real Madrid need to ensure the fullbacks aren’t isolated against players like Salah or Luis Díaz. You can’t isolate Salah against Ferland Mendy or Fran García. It can’t be a situation where a guy like that, who’s as big of a threat as Salah is, is one-on-one with one of our fullbacks.
That’s why you need a guy like Valverde to support and help Ferland Mendy against Salah, because Salah is in very good form.
If you remember our clash against Bayern Munich in the Champions League last season in the semi-final, where Leroy Sané scored that goal, and he was running at Ferland Mendy. Ferland kept on pointing and saying, “Hey, somebody cover the inside in case he tries to go inside. I need cover there; I can cover the outside.” and that’s where you can’t have the fullbacks isolated against players like Luis Díaz and Salah. These are pacey guys who can make runs in behind.
Carlo has always emphasized the need for compactness and defensive organization, which will be critical.
Raúl Asencio has been impressive so far but facing Liverpool at Anfield is a big step up. It’s a different challenge compared to playing newly promoted teams.
Another player to consider is Dani Ceballos who offers value in ball progression. He gives you a lot off the ball, and he’s pretty good from a ball-progression standpoint, but you just have moments where he gives up the ball in really dangerous zones.
With a midfield trio of Valverde, Camavinga, and Jude, why not go for a more courageous lineup?
Brahim Díaz should also feature, given his exceptional form in recent times. Everyone must have seen how good he’s played for Morocco. The guy was absolutely ripping it up during the international break. He’s on high confidence, and he’s obviously an exceptional football player.
Obviously, Mbappé is one of the most important players on the team sheet for us. Jude is obviously going to start, so that leaves players like Arda Güler, Luka Modric, and Dani Ceballos. Between those three players, which one of them is going to be featuring? We would expect Arda to start considering how well he played over the weekend. He has shown brilliance in limited opportunities and could shine with more minutes.
Overall, it makes no sense to press Liverpool high at Anfield. Instead, we should sit in a deeper block and transition effectively. Mbappé is likely to play on the left and make vertical runs as Liverpool presses high. He might get caught offside a few times, but that’s expected.
Tomorrow’s game will be about compactness, defensive discipline, and seizing opportunities. Mbappé, a world-class player, was brought to Real Madrid for moments like these.
Kramportal prediction for this game is a draw, given how inconsistent Real Madrid has been this season. I hope the team proves their supporters wrong.
Stay tuned for the post-match analysis, and let’s hope for a wonderful match from both teams.
Thank you for reading