What Liverpool need to qualify for Champions League knockout stages as Real Madrid reality clear

Liverpool will be hoping to reclaim their position at the top of the Champions League table when they host Real Madrid this evening (8pm kick-off). Arne Slot's side have continued their fine start to the season, having won all their European games so far.

A win against Real Madrid - whose reality looks very different sitting 21st in the standings - would take Liverpool back to the summit on 15 points. The Reds have a clear ambition of reaching the top eight in the competition and are well placed to skip to the play-off round and reach the last-16.

Ahead of the clash, Slot was reminded that Liverpool lost seven of their last eight games against the Spanish giants. He said in Tuesday's pre-match press conference: "I wasn’t aware of the fact we played them so many times. I was aware of the fact that two years ago they – I say ‘they’ because I was not part of it – were 2-0 up. I used that game to my team at Feyenoord at the time to show that Real Madrid always find a way of winning a game.

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"When Liverpool were 2-0 up, no-one would have expected that game to end up being 5-2 for Real Madrid but that is what makes them so special, that they can turn games around like that. If we are fortunate enough to be a goal up or even more up (on Wednesday) we still are aware of the fact, especially because of what we experienced two years ago, that the game will never be done until the referee blows his whistle.

"In general it is like this but I think we all feel it against Real Madrid a bit more than to some other clubs we face. Do they have different aura in Europe? I think they might do."

As things stand, Inter Milan are top of the standings and are the only team ahead of Liverpool - with only one point separating the sides. Barcelona share the same points (12) as the Reds after defeating Brest 3-0 on Tuesday evening.

Even if Slot's side fall to their first European defeat, they will remain in the top five. Following Tuesday's games, only AS Monaco can climb above the Reds if they beat Benfica at home this evening.

After facing Real Madrid, Liverpool will take on Girona, Lille and PSV in their final three fixtures in the Champions League. Wins in each of their last four matches would be more than enough to seal a spot in the play-offs and most likely see them finish at the summit. Even if they do no win every game, the Reds look set to advance through given their blistering start to the competition so far.