Champions League: Madrid's domination of Liverpool set to be jeopardised by injuries to key players

Real Madrid travel to Anfield to take on Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday with a depleted squad. Vinicius Jr. is the latest in a long line of first-team stars to be struck by injury.

The Brazilian winger has scored five goals in five UCL appearances against the Reds, including two in a 5-2 victory for Los Blancos on their last visit to Merseyside in February 2023.

That has been a familiar story in meetings between the teams in recent years, which should offer the Spaniards hope, despite their fitness issues.

Real Madrid and Liverpool have faced off on 11 previous occasions, with the Premier League club gaining the upper hand early on in the rivalry, which has now swung completely the other way.

March 15, 2023: Real Madrid 1-0 Liverpool (Champions League Round of 16)

 February 21, 2023: Liverpool 2-5 Real Madrid (Champions League Round of 16)

  May 28, 2022: Liverpool 0-1 Real Madrid (Champions League Final)

 April 14, 2021: Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid (Champions League Quarterfinals)

  April 6, 2021: Real Madrid 3-1 Liverpool (Champions League Quarterfinals)

 May 26, 2018: Real Madrid 3-1 Liverpool (Champions League Final)

 November 4, 2014: Real Madrid 1-0 Liverpool (Champions League Group Stage)

 October 22, 2014: Liverpool 0-3 Real Madrid (Champions League Group Stage)

  March 10, 2009: Liverpool 4-0 Real Madrid (Champions League Last 16)

  February 25, 2009: Real Madrid 0-1 Liverpool (Champions League Last 16)

    May 27, 1981: Real Madrid 0-1 Liverpool (European Cup Final)

The Reds won the first three meetings between the clubs, which were the 1981 European Cup final, followed by both legs of the round of 16 tie in 2008/09. However, Liverpool haven’t defeated Wednesday’s opponents since a 4-0 victory at Anfield on March 10, 2009.

Since then, Madrid has won seven of the eight encounters, including Champions League finals in 2018 and 2022. Of the others, they won two group stage games in 2014/15, the first leg of the quarterfinal in 2020/21 and both legs of last season’s round-of-16 tie.

Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Eder Militão are among the first-team players unavailable for Wednesday’s UCL game against the Premier League leaders at Anfield.

The only time Real Madrid haven’t beaten Liverpool in the last eight meetings was in April 2021, when they drew 0-0 in England's second leg of the quarterfinal above.