After beating the team 20th in the Premier League, Liverpool defeated the side 24th in the Champions League. The similarities may end there: it is scarcely a surprise Southampton occupy that station in England. But Real Madrid, the reigning champions of Europe, find themselves 24th after five rounds.
The position has a certain significance in a new format; they are hovering about the second dotted line. A side who began the competition as favourites, along with Manchester City, now instead risk the embarrassment of failing even to get the safety net of a play-off place. If Real initially thought their fixture list would not include a European double-header in February, now they must hope it does. The alternative is the embarrassment of crashing out of continental competition altogether.
