Liverpool already beating Real VARdrid, Kroos and Alaba out

The Champions League round of 16 draw has been particularly cruel to Real Madrid, who, coming top of the group, have had to face the worst possible opponent with PSG, Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool. And while recent meetings between the two sides have been fateful for the Reds, the fact remains that Luis Díaz and Darwin Núñez are celebrating their advantage over the Blancos, one that goes straight to Luka Modric.

On Valentine's Day, Real Madrid will travel to Liverpool to face the English side at Anfield (21.00, Spanish time) but before all that, it is necessary to look at what steps the important pieces of both teams will take before the Champions League match, and in those, whatever happens in Qatar, Madrid loses out.

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Bear in mind that some of Jürgen Klopp's first-choice players such as Diogo Jota, Luis Díaz, Firmino (absent from the Brazil squad), Mo Salah and we'll see if Thiago Alcántara, will miss the World Cup, either because they are not qualified or called up or because of injury. In addition, two of Carlo Ancelotti's key players, Karim Benzema and Luka Modric, are well over 34 years of age and will be the main players in Qatar, so there is a risk of injury and exhaustion. The last precedent with the Harlequins captain, in 2018, was fateful.

There is no player in the Reds squad in that situation, as Virgil van Dijk, Matip and Henderson are not yet of that age (31, 31 and 32, respectively). It is true that Toni Kroos and David Alaba will not go to Qatar either, but the special characteristics of the Frenchman and the Croatian from Real Madrid make them particularly sensitive players, because they are irreplaceable, and because of their age.

Real Madrid will arrive tired

However, in terms of the balance between the two teams in the Champions League, Madrid come out on top, having won five games to the English side's three and one draw. And at home, this historical advantage is even more pronounced: Madrid have won five of the last six times they have met, drawing the sixth. Liverpool have not beaten Madrid since 2009, when Fernando Torres was with the British team.