Liverpool<\/a> faced Real Madrid<\/a> and Manchester City<\/a> in a week and, at the end of it, it was reasonable to conclude they were the best team in the world at that point. <\/p>\n The statement requires the use of the past tense because it was a year ago, when Liverpool beat the reigning champions of Europe and England in a heady few days. No such claims could be made now. Not after victory over Aston Villa<\/a> merely reduced their recent record to six defeats in eight. <\/p>\n It is a quirk of the fixture list that, in another autumn, Liverpool have the same doubleheader. Now, however, they are not top of either the Premier or the Champions League<\/a>. Arne Slot<\/a> identified other differences. <\/p>\n \u201cIt is not the same because last season we played them both at home and now one of them is away. It is not the same because last season we faced a Real Madrid who had many injuries and now they haven\u2019t. It is not the same because last season we were a different team than now,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n If the short response is that they were both a better one and a cheaper one, with the \u00a3450m refit yet to reap a footballing dividend, Real come into a reunion with 13 wins in 14 games. <\/p>\n A year ago, Liverpool boasted the same record. A year ago, Real\u2019s absentees included Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Eder Militao, Aurelien Tchouameni, David Alaba and Dani Carvajal. Now Liverpool will be without Alexander Isak, Jeremie Frimpong and Alisson Becker. <\/p>\n And yet one of the credibility-defying elements of Real\u2019s dismembering at Anfield was that it came partly at the hands of understudies. With Alisson sidelined, Caoimhin Kelleher saved a Kylian Mbappe penalty. A barnstorming, man-of-the-match performance came from Conor Bradley, symbolised by a thunderous challenge on Mbappe that has entered Anfield folklore. <\/p>\n Trent Alexander-Arnold<\/a>, who was returning from a spell on the sidelines, was an unused substitute for Liverpool that night. He may assume a similar role for Real on Tuesday. <\/p>\n The right-back was booed in April by a section of the support when he announced he would leave. It will be instructive how he is received in Real white. \u201cHe gets a warm welcome from me, that’s for sure,\u201d said Slot. \u201cI have great memories of the player and the human being.\u201d <\/p>\n For Slot, the key for Bradley, if he is to establish himself as Alexander-Arnold\u2019s successor, can be summed up in two words \u2013 \u201cstay fit\u201d \u2013 but this will be an examination of his credentials. The Liverpool head coach launched into a eulogy about Vinicius. \u201cHe is lightning fast, one on one he is very special,\u201d he said. Both Slot and Bradley\u2019s predecessors could testify as much. The Brazilian used to be the scourge of Alexander-Arnold. <\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Former Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to receive a hostile reception on his first return to Anfield (PA Wire)<\/p>\n Another comparison could come in the technical areas. Slot\u2019s path to the Liverpool job was smoothed when Xabi Alonso<\/a> said he wanted to stay at Bayer Leverkusen for a further year. Perhaps Liverpool\u2019s 2005 Champions League-winning midfielder sensed there would be a vacancy at the Bernabeu in 2025. <\/p>\n He nevertheless returned to Anfield in European competition last season. His Bayer Leverkusen side departed demolished 4-0. Their principal tormentor, however, was Luis Diaz and the scorer of a hat-trick was one of the summer departures from Anfield.<\/p>\n Then Liverpool boasted the 100 percent start to the Champions League. Now Real do. \u201cXabi is doing an incredible job in Madrid but Carlo Ancelotti did the same,\u201d added Slot. <\/p>\n![\"Former](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/d7dfd466582368d8c0432c3ebd09e8ddY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzYyMjg0MDAw-2.80604538.jpg\")
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