November 26th 2024.
After a thrilling victory at Southampton, Mohamed Salah is in high spirits as he celebrates scoring the winning goal. However, his mind is already focused on the next big game - a showdown against Real Madrid at Anfield. As the manager of Liverpool, Arne Slot knows he has a difficult task ahead of him when he selects his team for this highly anticipated Champions League match.
On one hand, Slot wants to ensure that his key players are not exhausted or at risk of injury, with a crucial match against Manchester City coming up on Sunday. On the other hand, he is well aware of the threat posed by Real Madrid, especially after their crushing 5-2 victory over Liverpool in the last 16 a couple of years ago. The memory of that defeat still lingers in the minds of the fans, and Slot is determined to avoid a similar outcome.
Thankfully, Liverpool is currently at the top of the Premier League and is also leading their group in the Champions League. This means that they have a good chance of advancing to the last 16 without having to play any additional playoff games in the new year. Slot is also fortunate to have a strong and deep squad, with players like Luis Diaz and Alexis Mac Allister ready to step in if needed. There is also the possibility of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harvey Elliott returning from injury, which would be a huge boost for the team.
Managing time and resources is crucial for Liverpool as they compete on multiple fronts for silverware. After facing Manchester City, they have two more tough matches against Newcastle and Everton, followed by a Champions League game against Girona. Slot may have the luxury of resting some players in this match, as it could potentially be a dead rubber for his team.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid is struggling with injuries and currently sits at 18th place in the group stage. They suffered a 3-1 defeat in their last European game against AC Milan, after a convincing 5-2 win over Borussia Dortmund. However, their campaign got off to a shaky start with a 1-0 loss to Lille. They have some work to do if they want to climb into the top eight and secure a spot in the next round.
The Liverpool players are surely motivated by the desire to avenge their previous defeat against Real Madrid. The odds are also in their favor, with bookmakers offering 10/11 for a Liverpool win. Salah, who recently announced that he is more likely to leave Liverpool than sign a new contract, is priced at 23/5 to score the first goal and 11/8 to score at any time.
In other news, Aston Villa is set to face Juventus in what would typically be considered the biggest match of the night in England. However, with the Liverpool-Real Madrid clash stealing the spotlight, this game takes a backseat. Villa's manager, Unai Emery, is facing some challenges with his team's recent form, with six winless games and a defeat at Club Bruges. Injuries have also been a factor, but there is a growing belief that Villa's style of play has been figured out by their opponents.
Juventus, on the other hand, is unbeaten in Serie A and boasts the best defensive record. They have also performed well in Europe, with seven points from 12. However, their seven draws in 13 league games may give Villa some hope of securing a draw, with bookmakers offering odds of 12/5 for a stalemate. Under 2.5 goals is also a popular bet at 7/10.
In cricket, Australia is already trying to get in the heads of their rivals, England, even though the Ashes are still 12 months away. Former coach Darren Lehmann has made controversial comments about Joe Root, claiming that he is not an elite batter. Root will surely use this as motivation as he leads his team in the first of three Tests against New Zealand. Paddy Power and Betfair are offering odds of 7/2 for Root to be the top runscorer, while Tim Southee is priced at 3/1 with BoyleSports to be the top home bowler.
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