Liverpool vs Real Madrid team news: Reds go all out attack while Klopp includes surprise name in midfield

Jurgen Klopp has named four attackers in his starting XI for the club's Champions League clash against Real Madrid.

Liverpool take on Real at the Santiago Bernabeu hoping for a miracle in the Spanish capital.

Three weeks ago, Jurgen Klopp’s side were defeated 5-2 in the first leg of the Champions League encounter at Anfield, despite having been two goals ahead early in the first half.

While Real are very much in the driving seat, domestically Los Blancos have been in poor form.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side trail La Liga table toppers Barcelona by some nine points, having failed to claim a win in the three domestic matches that followed the Anfield victory.

While Klopp’s side have previous when it comes to mounting huge comebacks, it would require a massive Real capitulation to progress to the quarter-finals.

Liverpool team news

Liverpool have named four attackers in the starting XI, as Klopp looks to overturn a three goal deficit.

Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota and Mo Salah all start against Los Blancos.

Meanwhile, James Milner has been named alongside Fabinho in midfield.

Klopp has rarely had all his midfield options available this term, and tonight is no different.

Jordan Henderson was ruled out of the contest through illness and Stefan Bajcetic is also unavailable having suffered an adductor injury.

For Real, Karim Benzema has returned to the starting XI after missing their weekend win over Espanyol.

The Frenchman scored a brace in the first leg, as did Vinicius Jr, who also starts.

Antonio Rudiger is the only other change for Ancelotti's side, with the German replacing Aurelien Tchouameni.

The full line ups are as follows:

Real Madrid: Courtois, Carvajal, Militao, Nacho, Kroos, Benzema, Modric, Camavinga, Vinicius, Rudiger... Subs: Lunin, Vallejo, Hazard, Asensio, Odriozola, Vazquez, Tchouameni, Ceballos, Rodrygo, Mendy, Mariano, Alvaro.

Liverpool: Alisson, Fabinho, Van Dijk, Konate, Milner, Salah, Gakpo, Jota, Robertson, Nunez, Alexander-Arnold... Subs: Adrian, Kelleher, Gomez, Keita, Firmino, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jones, Elliott, Tsimikas, Carvalho, Matip, Williams.

Topics: Football, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp, Champions League

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.