The highly anticipated Matchday 4 fixture of the 2025/26 group stage will pit Liverpool (England) against Real Madrid (Spain) on November 4th at Anfield Stadium. This preview provides an in-depth analysis, including predictions, odds, and key statistics for the Liverpool vs. Real Madrid clash.
Liverpool’s Current Form
Arne Slot’s men secured a resounding 5-1 away victory against Eintracht in their last Champions League outing. This marked the English side’s first dominant win in the competition in nearly a year. However, it was only the second time in their last five Champions League matches that Liverpool managed to score more than one goal. Defensively, the team has shown vulnerabilities, conceding in seven consecutive UCL fixtures. With six points, Liverpool currently sits in 10th place in the tournament standings.
- The Reds have not drawn any of their last 24 Champions League encounters, recording 17 wins and 7 losses.
- The club has netted at least two goals in 9 of their last 10 home matches in the Champions League.
- At their home ground, the English giants have conceded no more than one goal in 5 of their last 6 matches in this prestigious tournament.
Anticipated Liverpool Lineup (4-3-3)
Giorgi Mamardashvili – Conor Bradley, Ibrahima Konaté, Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson – Alexis Mac Allister, Florian Wirtz, Dominik Szoboszlai – Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike, Cody Gakpo.
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker, midfielder Curtis Jones, forward Alexander Isak, and defender Jeremie Frimpong are all sidelined due to injuries.
Real Madrid’s Current Form
The Spanish giants maintain a perfect record in the competition. Their recent 1-0 victory over Juventus marked their third consecutive win in the Champions League. Notably, after a seven-match streak of conceding goals in this tournament, the Madrid side has managed to keep two successive clean sheets. In the current UCL campaign, Xabi Alonso’s squad is only behind Arsenal and Inter in terms of “shutouts.” Real Madrid currently holds the 5th position in the overall standings.
- The team has scored at least one goal in 10 of their last 12 Champions League fixtures.
- The Spaniards have conceded in 6 of their last 8 away games in this tournament.
- At least three goals have been scored in 4 of Real Madrid’s last 5 Champions League matches.
Anticipated Real Madrid Lineup (4-5-1)
Thibaut Courtois – Álvaro Carreras, Raúl Asensio, Éder Militão, Federico Valverde – Vinicius Júnior, Eduardo Camavinga, Jude Bellingham, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Arda Güler – Kylian Mbappé.
Defenders David Alaba, Antonio Rüdiger, and Dani Carvajal are currently sidelined with injuries.
Referee Profile
István Kovács (Romania)
Matches officiated: 5 (International fixtures, 2025/26 season);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows): 19;
Average yellow cards per match: 3.8;
Red cards shown: 0;
Average fouls per match: 32;
Penalties awarded: 20%.
Match Forecast: Liverpool vs. Real Madrid
These two football titans share a rich history of clashes in the Champions League. Their most recent encounter in the previous edition of the tournament saw the English side triumph with a 2-0 victory, which effectively ended Liverpool’s eight-match winless streak against the Madrid club (1 draw, 7 losses). However, at that time, the Reds were in peak form and had sailed through the group stage almost flawlessly. Currently, Arne Slot’s squad is delivering results that are difficult to justify given the team’s caliber, having suffered defeats in 6 of their last 8 official matches.
In stark contrast to their opponents, the Spanish outfit demonstrates consistent performance. In the current Champions League season, the team remains undefeated, and overall, Xabi Alonso’s men have emerged victorious in 13 out of 14 official matches this season, suffering only one defeat. Furthermore, Real Madrid has avoided defeat in 11 of their last 15 away fixtures in the Champions League.
Following Matchday 3, bookmakers had clearly favored Liverpool, but the British team’s recent performances have effectively stripped them of their favorite status. Real Madrid is well-positioned to capitalize on their opponent’s struggles and secure valuable points. My prediction is: Real Madrid to Win or Draw.
Author: Alexey Tarabrin
Rory Whitfield
