Liverpool vs Real Madrid: Champions League Pick & Prediction, November 4, 2025
Two giants of European football collide once again as Liverpool host Real Madrid at Anfield on Tuesday, November 4, in what promises to be another thrilling chapter in their storied Champions League rivalry.
The Reds have eased some of the pressure on Arne Slot with a crucial league win over Aston Villa on Saturday night, but now face Xabi Alonso’s in-form Los Blancos, who continue to dominate both domestically and in Europe.
Head-to-Head History (H2H: Liverpool vs Real Madrid)
Few matches in European football carry the same emotional weight as Liverpool vs Real Madrid. The Merseysiders finally ended their eight-game losing streak against Los Blancos with a 2-0 victory at Anfield last November, their first success over the Spanish giants since 2009.
Before that, Real Madrid had won seven of the previous eight meetings, including the Champions League finals in 2018 and 2022. Both Carlo Ancelotti and Xabi Alonso have tasted defeat at Anfield in the past campaign – the latter enduring a 4-0 beating with Bayer Leverkusen before taking over at the Bernabéu.
Alonso now returns as Real Madrid’s manager, looking to extend their near-perfect start to the season and continue the club’s dominance in Europe’s elite competition.
Liverpool: Current Form and Team News
Liverpool avoided yet another setback in what has been a turbulent campaign by securing a precious 2-0 home victory over Aston Villa at the weekend. Goals from Mohamed Salah and Ryan Gravenberch helped the Reds climb back into the Premier League top three and restore confidence before Tuesday’s European showdown.
The victory was a much-needed tonic for Arne Slot, who was staring down the possibility of becoming the first Liverpool manager to lose five straight Premier League matches. Instead, the Reds produced one of their more complete performances in recent weeks – tightening up defensively and showing more control in possession.
With a trip to Manchester City looming on Sunday, Slot faces difficult decisions about squad rotation. Giorgi Mamardashvili will again start in goal with Alisson Becker still sidelined, while Conor Bradley could face the challenge of starting two matches within four days at right-back. Jeremie Frimpong remains injured, and Joe Gomez or versatile Dominik Szoboszlai may be asked to provide cover if necessary.
Andy Robertson reclaimed his place from Milos Kerkez at left-back against Villa and is expected to retain his role, while Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate will continue their partnership at the heart of defence. Joe Gomez, once again, and Wataru Endo both provide backup should rotation be required.
In the middle of the park, Ryan Gravenberch’s return from injury proved fundamental, as the Netherlands international joined Alexis Mac Allister and Szoboszlai in a balanced trio that controlled Aston Villa’s press. Curtis Jones remains doubtful with a groin issue, while Florian Wirtz could provide fresh legs if needed. Teenager Trey Nyoni is also in line for a spot on the bench.
Up front, Mohamed Salah is the first name on the team sheet and remains Liverpool’s most consistent attacking threat despite the poor start to the campaign, while Cody Gakpo should continue on the left flank. Should Alexander Isak fail to recover from a groin issue, Hugo Ekitike will once again lead the line, with Federico Chiesa or Wirtz potential alternatives in a central or false-nine role.
Mbappe Returns to Anfield as Real Madrid’s Main Threat
When these two sides met at Anfield 12 months ago, Kylian Mbappe endured one of his most frustrating nights. He was famously wiped out by Conor Bradley’s sliding tackle and later saw his penalty saved by Caoimhin Kelleher, as Liverpool cruised to a morale-boosting 2-0 win – their first over Real Madrid in 15 years.
Fast forward to 2025, and Mbappe returns as arguably one of the best players on the planet right now. The Frenchman has scored 18 goals in 14 appearances this season and has found the net in 24 of his last 28 games for club and country. Under Xabi Alonso, Mbappé has evolved into the perfect spearhead for Madrid’s new system – deadly in transition and increasingly efficient in tight spaces.
The spotlight will also shine on Trent Alexander-Arnold, who could face his boyhood club after joining Real Madrid last summer, while Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior are expected to support Mbappé in Alonso’s fluid attacking setup.
Real Madrid: Current Form and Team News
The Spanish giants arrive in Liverpool brimming with confidence after dismantling Valencia 4-0 at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday to stay five points clear at the top of La Liga. Apart from a heavy 5-2 defeat in the Madrid derby on September 27, Xabi Alonso’s men were the winning side in 13 of their 14 matches across all competitions this term.
Alonso’s tenure has not been without its challenges, though, as injuries to veteran-skipper Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger, and David Alaba have left Madrid short at the back – but his side’s adaptability and tactical discipline have stood out. With Trent Alexander-Arnold yet to regain full match sharpness, Federico Valverde may again be asked to fill in defensively.
Madrid’s attacking quartet of Mbappé, Bellingham, Vinícius, and Arda Guler provides a frightening blend of youth, flair, and efficiency – and they will look to test Liverpool’s high defensive line early.
Tactical Duel: Slot’s Press vs Alonso’s Diamond
Expect two high-intensity styles to collide. Arne Slot’s side mostly thrive on pressing and quick transitions, with Salah and Szoboszlai crucial to countering Madrid’s buildup. Xabi Alonso’s diamond midfield, however, excels at breaking through pressing systems and creating overloads in central areas – freeing Bellingham to exploit space behind the lines while Mbappé and Vinícius stretch the defence.
For Liverpool, keeping Real Madrid’s attackers quiet will be their sternest test yet. Slot’s men have kept just five clean sheets in their last 28 games, though their shutout against Aston Villa at least broke a 10-game streak without one – since a 1-0 win at Burnley in mid-September. The same defensive quartet that triumphed at the weekend is expected to start again, with Bradley, Konate, Robertson and captain Van Dijk tasked with protecting Mamardashvili – who notably saved a Vinícius Júnior penalty for Valencia last season.
If Bradley does start, it will be his first time playing two games in four days since the previous Madrid meeting – the very fixture in which he suffered the hamstring injury that sidelined him for months.
Much could depend on how well Liverpool’s midfield tandem of Mac Allister and Gravenberch track Madrid’s runners and whether the Reds can sustain their pressing intensity for 90 minutes.
Possible Starting Lineups of Liverpool and Real Madrid
Liverpool: Giorgi Mamardashvili – Conor Bradley, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson – Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister – Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo – Hugo Ekitike. (4-2-3-1)
Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois – Federico Valverde, Eder Militao, Dean Huijsen, Alvaro Carreras – Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni, Jude Bellingham – Arda Guler – Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe. (4-3-1-2)
Liverpool vs Real Madrid Betting Prediction and Odds
Despite their dreadful form lately, Liverpool enter as slight +145 favorites, with Real Madrid narrowly behind at +160, and the draw priced at +285 according to EveryGame‘s betting odds for this Champions League classic.
In the Anytime goalscorer markets, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (+130) and Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe (-137) lead the odds to find the net, and it’s easy to see why – both are pivotal figures to their sides’ attacking identity.
However, with Liverpool’s defensive vulnerabilities and Real Madrid’s ruthless counterattacks, the value lies with the Spanish side. Alonso’s system is built to exploit the spaces that Slot’s full-backs often leave behind, and Real Madrid’s attacking formation could thrive under these circumstances.
Anfield rarely disappoints on European nights, and this clash should be no exception. Both sides are likely to score, but Real Madrid’s resilience and individual brilliance may be enough to extend their unbeaten run and spoil the next step of Liverpool’s potential resurgence.