Liverpool sent 'improved' Kylian Mbappe warning ahead of Real Madrid showdown

Liverpool have been warned Kylian Mbappe is rediscovering his sharpness ahead of Real Madrid's Champions League visit on Wednesday evening. The Champions League holders visit Anfield six points adrift of the table-topping Reds at the halfway point of the new-look first stage in the competition.

Real Madrid went into the weekend a similar gap behind Barcelona at the top of La Liga, albeit with a game in hand.

There have been question marks over the form and fitness of Mbappe and his ability to integrate into the team having switched from Paris Saint-Germain to the Bernabeu in the summer.

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Mbappe has also been the subject of speculation over his private life, and was left out of the latest France squad for their UEFA Nations League games against Israel and Italy.

But Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, speaking ahead of Sunday's La Liga game at Leganes, believes the striker is now primed to start delivering for his new club.

“He has been able to train well, his condition has improved," he said. "Hopefully he can show all his qualities, of which he has many.

“Kylian has never asked me for a position on the field. They all want to be in the starting XI, they don’t have a fixed position and they can be changed depending on the match situations.”

Real go into the weekend on the back of a 4-0 win over Osasuna last time out, which came after heavy home defeats to Barcelona in La Liga and AC Milan in the Champions League.

And Ancelotti added: “The team is good, they have come back in good shape, without problems. Those who have been here worked well. We have to confirm the good feelings of the last game. We want to start well. Hopefully it will be a good game.”