Real Madrid News
Official: Liverpool starting lineup against Real Madrid
Liverpool will be looking for revenge as they host Real Madrid at Anfield tonight. The Reds have not been enjoying the best of domestic seasons so far, but remain undeterred on their path to a possible seventh Champions League title.
Alisson has arguably been Pool’s best player this season, and will lead the charge tonight again, from goal. Virgil van Dijk returns to the team sheet after spending the last few weeks out due to injury. He is aided by Jose Gomez in central defence.
Familiar faces in Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson provide width from the back from the right and left, respectively.
Fabinho takes up the responsibility of screening the defence alongside Stefan Bajcetic, while Jordan Henderson will likely start as the most advanced of the three players.
Darwin Nunez has played on the left-wing recently, with Cody Gakpo given the keys to lead the line as the no. 9. Mohamed Salah rounds off what is a very narrow front-three from the right-wing.
⭐ #LIVRMA TEAM NEWS ⭐
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 21, 2023
Our line-up to face @realmadrid tonight in the #UCL last-16 first leg 🔴
Confirmed Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson; Bajcetic, Fabinho, Henderson; Nunez, Gakpo, Salah
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid not contemplating rehiring Jose Mourinho with Ancelotti’s future uncertain
Carlo Ancelotti’s uncertain future has caused a severe rise in reports over potential replacements for the manager post at Real Madrid. There is no shortage of options for the administration at the Santiago Bernabeu as they continue to scout the right man to take the team forward.
Jose Mourinho was one of the candidates speculated to be considered internally at the club. However, MARCA has come out to deny such a possibility. As it stands, Real Madrid do not consider the return of the former manager as an option.
Over the past few years, it has become common to see the Merengues look towards managers for a second stint. The formula worked wonders when they brought back Zinedine Zidane in 2019 for a new term and he pioneered a ten-match winning streak to give his side the edge over Barcelona to clinch La Liga.
Their next step led them to Ancelotti, who had already managed the team before, and the result was similar. In the first season of his second stint, he led Los Blancos to the UEFA Champions League and La Liga.
It is thus not surprising that Mourinho’s name has re-emerged as a candidate to arrive next summer. The Portuguese led the side from 2010-2013 and took down Barcelona’s golden generation to win one La Liga, one Copa Del Rey and one Spanish Super Cup. The Champions League was the one big void in his achievements in Spain.
The 60-year-old tactician currently serves as the manager of AS Roma in Serie A and has seen moderate success at the club. The Italians sit fifth on the table with 14 wins in 27 games. They have scored 35 goals and conceded 26 in their league run so far.
A second stint at the Santiago Bernabeu, however, is not on the cards for the Portuguese.
