Liverpool will be looking for revenge after last season's Champions League final defeat when they face Real Madrid in the Champions League Round of 16.
After a tough start to the year, 2-0 wins against Everton and Newcastle send Liverpool into their Champions League clash with Real Madrid in high spirits. This is the fourth time in the last six years that the Reds have faced Madrid in the Champions League knockouts, the last being the 1-0 defeat to Carlo Ancelotti's side in the 2021/22 final.
History isn't on Liverpool's side heading into this one, with the Reds drawing one and losing five of their last six meetings against Los Blancos. Jurgen Klopp also provided an injury update on Darwin Nunez ahead of the clash, claiming "there is a chance" the striker could be fit for the first-leg clash at Anfield.
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So, who will come out on top in the Champions League Round of 16 clash? Let's take a look...
Liverpool vs Real Madrid score predicted by simulation
To complete this simulation, we used FIFA 23 and updated the squads with the latest injuries and suspensions. Recent form impacts players' ratings in FIFA 23, so the Blues squad was lower-rated than usual heading into this simulation.
We predict that Liverpool could set up in a 4-3-3 formation, with their line-up as follows: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Bajcetic; Salah, Gakpo, Jota.
We predict that the Champions League holders could line up in a 4-3-3 formation, with their line-up as follows: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Alaba; Camavinga, Modric, Ceballos; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Jr.
Liverpool almost took the lead from the go, with Mohamed Salah's curling shot towards the far corner saved by Thibaut Courtois before the Belgian saved Diogo Jota's strike on the rebound. The Reds would be hoping the 'keeper won't produce another performance like last season's Champions League final, but they managed to break the deadlock after nine minutes through Cody. Gakpo.
The Reds patiently built up play around the Madrid box, with Stefan Bajcetic and Jordan Henderson seeing most of the ball. Gakpo held off his marker to open up an avenue for a pass, and Bajcetic found the Dutchman with a perfectly weighted through ball.
Gakpo latched onto the pass and fired a powerful strike across goal, flying past Courtois and into the top corner. The pressure continued from Liverpool, with Gakpo being denied another two times in the first half as the visitor's 'keeper continued to impress.
Outnumbering Madrid's shots 11 to one in the first half, the Reds were on top, and that continued in the second as Diogo Jota, Bajcetic and Virgil van Dijk all came close. The pick of Courtois' saves came in the 83rd minute to deny substitute Naby Keita.
Andrew Robertson's floated cross into the box was met by the gloves of Courtois, with the 'keeper surging off his line to punch clear. The ball fell to the feet of Keita who rifled a volley back towards goal, and somehow the backtracking 'keeper managed to tip the ball over the bar at full stretch to keep his side in the game.
Madrid had a few chances of their own towards the end of the game with Rodrygo striking the post after a rapid counterattack, but the holders couldn't find an equaliser as the Reds carried an advantage into the second leg.
FIFA 23 predicted score: Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid
Here are the full-time match stats:
FIFA 23 predicts that Liverpool could pick up a huge win against Real Madrid, beating Los Blancos 1-0 in the simulation. The Reds took advantage of Madrid's weakened midfield as Bajcetic and Fabinho impressed, whilst Gakpo starred in attack, with Courtois denying the striker multiple times to keep the score to just 1-0.
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