Liverpool expect fans to raise roof for Real visit

LONDON/BRUSSELS — Liverpool will expect their noisy fans to recreate the special Anfield atmosphere that has helped them become kings of Europe five times when they take on Champions League winners Real Madrid on Wednesday night.

Brendan Rodgers’s team, third in Group B with three points from two matches, have not yet shown the swagger that swept them to second place in the Premier League last season and they laboured to a 3-2 win at bottom club Queens Park Rangers on Sunday.

Liverpool, though, have won all three previous games against Real in Europe’s elite competition and manager Rodgers is confident his players will give the 10-time champions a run for their money in front of a typically raucous home crowd.

“Real are playing as well as they have played for the last five to 10 years,” he told the club website.

“What’s great for us is that we’re playing at home. We have a great crowd and this is a team that can rise to the level.

“Real Madrid, as the champions, are an exceptionally good side but we’ll be ready.”

Liverpool’s shortcomings were all too evident against QPR and with striker Daniel Sturridge missing with a calf injury and Mario Balotelli short of confidence, breaking down Carlo Ancelotti’s side could be a problem.

Real have no such issues up front and with Cristiano Ronaldo bagging 15 goals in eight La Liga matches, Rodgers is well aware of the challenges Liverpool face. 

Amazing player 

“He is an amazing player and his evolution over the past few years into becoming a goal-scorer has been incredible,” said the former Swansea City boss.

“Real have everything, a lot of experience, top players, speed and technique.”

Ancelotti’s men have hit form in La Liga with five straight victories but they look likely to be without forward Gareth Bale who has a buttock muscle strain.

Defender Alvaro Arbeloa, who spent two and a half seasons with Liverpool, is looking forward to returning to his former club.

“It will be a great experience for me but I have also told my teammates to enjoy the match at Anfield as much as possible,” the Spaniard told reporters.

“We will face a team that will go out and fight to the death and give everything because they need to win.”

Real top Group B having already beaten Swiss club Basel and Ludogorets of Bulgaria.

“We are doing very well and are on track,” Arbeloa said. “We know we have two games against Liverpool now which will be decisive in where we finish in the group.”

Not firing on all cylinders

If Anderlecht are to have any realistic chance of prolonging their involvement beyond the group stage, a home win over Arsenal on Wednesday is paramount.

The Belgium side are joint bottom of Group D with one point from their opening two games, two points behind Arsenal and five behind leaders Borussia Dortmund.

Arsenal are not firing on all cylinders, however, and Saturday’s 2-2 home draw with Hull City left Arsene Wenger’s side 11 points off the pace in the Premier League.

The London club are still formidable opponents, but if ever there was a good time to face the Gunners it might be when they are stretched with record signing Mesut Ozil, Olivier Giroud and Mathieu Debuchy injured and first-choice keeper Wojciech Szczesny suspended after his red card against Galatasaray.

Theo Walcott is on the verge of a return after a long-standing knee injury while Aaron Ramsey (hamstring) and Jack Wilshere (knee) are slight doubts but should be available.

Reserve keeper David Ospina is also injured so third-choice Emiliano Martinez is expected to start for Arsenal.

Despite the injuries, midfielder Mathieu Flamini says there are no excuses for a moderate start to the season.

“We’re having injuries but we don’t want to hide behind any excuses,” said Flamini.

“We’re facing the truth — we didn’t win on Saturday and we’ll try to find a solution for the next games.”

Massive achievement

While failure to reach the knockout rounds for the 12th consecutive season would represent failure for Arsenal, getting there would be a massive achievement for Anderlecht.

Since 2000/01 when they reached the now defunct second group stage, they have finished bottom of their group seven times, including last season when they managed a solitary point.

They also have failed to win any of their last 10 Champions League matches and were held 1-1 at Mechelen on Sunday, their fifth draw in 11 Belgium league matches this season.

Arsenal have also drawn five of their opening eight in the Premier League and Wenger was in a tetchy mood after two more points were dropped against Hull at the weekend.

Anderlecht manager Besnik Hasi believes both sides find themselves in a similar position.

“We find it difficult to win, and that worries me,” Hasi told Sporza website. “Wednesday against Arsenal expectations are high. They are doing the same as us but hopefully we can boost our level a bit.”

Steven Defour will be Anderlecht’s main attacking threat while the Belgian league leaders will hope that international defender Anthony Vanden Borre may be able to play some part after playing an hour for Belgium’s under-21s last week, having been sidelined with a calf injury.