Opta Big Match Stats: Why it can be Liverpool's night

Liverpool's form is improving despite some poor performances

The Opta trends hint at a clichd famous European night at Anfield when Liverpool host Real Madrid...

Liverpool v Real Madrid
Wednesday, 19:45
Live on Sky Sports 5

Match Odds: Liverpool 4.57/2, Real Madrid 1.855/6, The Draw 4.1n/a

The Reds are the only team with a 100% win rate against Real Madrid in the Champions League

With Liverpool struggling to meet the lofty standards set last season, the expectation is that they will be shown up by Champions League holders Real Madrid. However, two things are worth considering before reaching any hasty conclusions: Liverpool enter the match fresh from successive wins despite not performing to their full potential, and Real Madrid haven't done anything too special this term.

Though they have won five in a row in La Liga, all bar one of their domestic triumphs to date were achieved against clubs in the bottom six, and it wasn't until the 77th minute that they led Ludogorets in their previous Champions League encounter. Opta note that Liverpool have faced the ten-time champions on three prior occasions and won to nil on every single one of them.

Recommended Bet: Back Liverpool to win @ 4.57/2

Real Madrid have failed to net against just two sides in the Champions League: Arsenal and Liverpool

Liverpool's feat in never having conceded against Real Madrid may not survive Wednesday's 90 minutes, but you shouldn't expect the Reds' defence to be embarrassed either. They were breached only once in both of their opening two Group B ties and QPR were the first opponents in five (and merely the second in nine) to fire past them more than once. Gareth Bale's absence should help.

Recommended Bet: Lay Real Madrid to score two or more goals @ 1.75/7

Cristiano Ronaldo failed to score in five visits to Anfield as a Man United player

The pro-Ronaldo response to this statistic is to point out that, as brilliant as he was at Man United, he is a significantly better player five years on, yet it remains intriguing that he has never obtained much personal glory visiting the red half of Merseyside while a Premier League employee. Despite breaking the record for most Champions League goals in a single campaign in 2013/14 (17), he has netted from open play in just one of his last four games in the competition outside of the Bernabeu.

Recommended Bet: Lay Cristiano Ronaldo to score @ 1.758/11