Liverpool vs Real Madrid Champions League Prediction, Odds & Picks

• Real Madrid were the better team in the first leg and hold a 3-1 advantage
• Liverpool have an away goal to their name and are not out of the tie just yet
• The Reds will look to make a quick start in a bid to overturn the two-goal deficit

Liverpool vs Real Madrid Odds

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Liverpool vs Real Madrid Predictions and Picks

It will not be easy in the absence of supporters, but Jurgen Klopp’s side will look to make a fast start and that could yield an early advantage on the night.

Pick:

Liverpool to win in the first half (+138)

How to Watch Liverpool vs Real Madrid

Liverpool went into the first leg of this Champions League quarter-final in buoyant mood, having inflicted a 3-0 defeat on Arsenal a few days prior. They did not do themselves justice in the Spanish capital, though, and deservedly sunk to a 3-1 loss that leaves them on the brink of elimination at the hands of the 13-time European champions.

Real Madrid should advance to the semi-finals, but as you would expect there is little value in backing them to do so. The best bet, then, is probably on Liverpool to win the first half. Jurgen Klopp’s side will look to make a fast start and strike an early blow, and that could see them hold an on-the-night advantage at the interval. Odds of +138 are attractive, regardless of Liverpool’s struggles at Anfield in 2021.

Liverpool Will Need a Dramatically Improved Display to Progress

Liverpool were far from their best at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano last week. They started the match slowly and did not create much of note in the first half, while defensive sloppiness at the other end allowed Madrid to open up a 2-0 lead. Liverpool was a little better after the break, but by then the damage had been done. Indeed, Zinedine Zidane’s side restored their two-goal cushion when Vinicius Junior found the back of the net in the 65th minute.

Klopp knows his team have a mountain to climb in the second leg, but Liverpool have come back from even more precarious positions against La Liga opposition in the past. When they won the Champions League in 2019, the Reds lost the first leg of their semi-final 3-0 to Barcelona, before completing a stunning comeback by winning 4-0 at Anfield. Klopp and his players will look to use that experience to their advantage on Wednesday.

They will find it more difficult to complete a turnaround against this Madrid team, however, Raphael Varane, Dani Carvajal and Sergio Ramos may be missing, but the XI that Zidane selects will still contain plenty of know-how and experience. Karim Benzema and Luka Modric have each won four Champions Leagues at the club, and Toni Kroos has won three at Madrid and one at Bayern. Moreover, the absence of supporters at Anfield makes it even less likely that Los Blancos will wilt under pressure.

If Liverpool are to knock Madrid out, they will need to fly out of the traps. An energetic and high-tempo start could make all the difference, although such performances have become much rarer at Anfield this season. Indeed, Saturday’s victory over Aston Villa ended Liverpool’s six-game losing streak at their own stadium.

Real Madrid Have Liverpool Exactly Where They Want Them

Zidane and his team have faced criticism at times this season, but Madrid are once again coming on strong as we enter the business end of the campaign. That is exactly what happened the last term, as Los Blancos put together a terrific run of form that saw them come from behind to win the La Liga title. They might be doing the same this year, with Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Barcelona putting Madrid just one point off top spot.

Their late-season rally last term was not enough for Madrid to beat Manchester City in the last 16 of the Champions League, but last week’s dominant display against Liverpool was the type that will have the club’s fans dreaming of a record-extending 14th triumph in this competition.

Zidane has not always got the credit he deserves during his two spells in charge of Madrid, but his medal collection speaks for itself. Los Blancos are on the easier side of the draw on paper, with the winner of this tie likely to face Chelsea in the semi-finals. If you are looking at the Champions League futures market, a bet on Real Madrid at this stage could pay off.

Real Madrid Should Get the Job Done but Could Fall Behind

Real Madrid did much of the hard work in the first leg, and it would be a huge surprise if they did not complete the job here. Even so, it is hard to envisage Liverpool not delivering an improved display, such was the insipid nature of their performance in the Spanish capital last time out.

Liverpool’s most memorable showings in the Klopp era have been full of intensity, aggression, and 100-mile-an-hour soccer. That has been less possible this term, as the combination a congested schedule and the absence of supporters has taken its toll. But Liverpool are still at their best when they play that way, and Klopp will instruct his players to get on the front foot from the very first whistle.

Madrid should gain a foothold in the match as it inevitably settles down, but the Reds will surely make a brighter start than they managed in the first leg. From a betting perspective, the best selection for this game is on the Reds to win the first half, even though they will probably end the night contemplating elimination from the Champions League before the semi-final stage for the second season on the bounce.