Liverpool line-ups for Real Madrid as Darwin Nunez dropped and Ibrahima Konate rested

Liverpool welcome Real Madrid to Anfield tonight for a mouth-watering Champions League showdown. But you could argue that's it's not even the Reds' biggest game of the week.

Arne Slot's side follow the visit of the reigning European champions with another massive home match against Manchester City on Sunday. Victory in that one would move leaders Liverpool a potentially decisive 11 points clear of Pep Guardiola's side in the Premier League title race.

But you can bet that Reds head coach Slot is looking no further than Madrid who, for all their injury problems and patchy form so far this season, will present a huge challenge this evening.

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So how should Liverpool line-up? Our Reds writers have their say...

Paul Gorst

Brendan Rodgers once infamously sent out a League Cup team against Real Madrid in the hope of emerging victorious for a big Premier League fixture against Chelsea the following weekend. Liverpool won neither, for the record.

But it's almost certain that Arne Slot won't be following suit when Real Madrid visit Merseyside tonight. The Reds head coach has already confirmed Trent Alexander-Arnold won't be starting and Alisson Becker won't either.

With Kostas Tsimikas sidelined with an ankle problem, Andy Robertson will start at left-back, while I am expecting Alexis Mac Allister to come back into the side. The big question is whether it is at the expense of Curtis Jones or Dominik Szoboszlai? I'll stick with Jones for this one, just.

Luis Diaz returns but not in place of Cody Gakpo. I am going to give him the nod over Darwin Nunez, who can rest up to tear at the La Liga giants for the final half hour or so, if required.

My team (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Jones, Gakpo; Diaz.

Ian Doyle

The Champions League and Real Madrid. Who will probably be 47-0 down with three seconds of additional time remaining this evening and still somehow draw.

Such is the way with the European Super League advocates. But it's a new test for Arne Slot. What, then, is the Liverpool head coach to do?

Caoimhin Kelleher remains in goal while Conor Bradley is the right-back given Trent Alexander-Arnold won't start. Similarly, Andy Robertson is at left-back with Kostas Tsimikas out. But I'd have Joe Gomez in alongside Virgil van Dijk at centre-back to give Ibrahima Konate a rest.

Conversely, Alexis Mac Allister should come into midfield as I wouldn't start him against Manchester City on Sunday. Ryan Gravenberch can be alongside the World Cup winner, with Curtis Jones in the attacking role in the engine room.

Up top, the experiment of Luis Diaz down the middle can have another go, with Cody Gakpo on the left and Mohamed Salah on the right.

My team (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Bradley, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Jones, Gakpo; Diaz.

Theo Squires

Is today the day Liverpool finally get one over on Real Madrid? The La Liga giants have won seven of the last eight meetings between the two sides, with it 15 years since the Reds last came out on top.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men are depleted by injury to boost Liverpool hopes, but so too is Arne Slot’s ranks. Consequently, the back five picks itself.

No Alisson Becker or Kostas Tsimikas, while Trent Alexander-Arnold is only fit enough for a place on the bench. There is an argument to turn to Joe Gomez at right-back, but Conor Bradley gets the unenviable task of trying to keep Kylian Mbappe quiet on the flank.

Caoimhin Kelleher continues in goal, while Andy Robertson once again gets the nod at left-back. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate will be hoping to put in an improved performance compared to Sunday’s 3-2 win over Southampton.

Alexis Mac Allister comes in for Curtis Jones in midfield, while Dominik Szoboszlai continues at number 10 after his goal at St. Marys.

In attack, Luis Diaz returns in place of Cody Gakpo on the left, with Darwin Nunez given another opportunity down the middle in the ongoing absence ofDiogo Jota

My team (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Nunez.