"This is what we want", "What a team" - Real Madrid fans hail Xabi Alonso for picking 'perfect lineup' to face Liverpool in UCL clash

Real Madrid fans are delighted with manager Xabi Alonso’s starting lineup for their UEFA Champions League clash against Liverpool. The two sides are set to face off at Anfield on Tuesday, November 4.

Alonso made just one change to his starting XI that defeated Valencia 4-0 in their last outing, with only Franco Mastantuono being excluded after being diagnosed with pubalgia, as confirmed by the club. The young Argentine was replaced with Eduardo Camavinga in Alonso’s 4-4-2 setup.

Thibaut Courtois retained his position between the sticks. Alvaro Carreras, Dean Huijsen, Eder Militao, and Federico Valverde form the back four. Aurelien Tchouaméni and Camavinga are deployed as central midfielders, while Vinicius Jr. and Arda Guler will play as wide midfielders. Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham will lead the line.

A section of Real Madrid supporters were pleased with the lineup, and they took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their excitement, with one writing:

“This is what we want let s go Madrid.”

Another tweeted:

“What a team 🔥🔥.” “Perfect line up,” a fan added. “Cook Xabi,” another raved. “We’re cookingggg,” a fan chimed in.

“It’s a match the fans love to match” – Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso on UCL clash with Liverpool

Xabi Alonso expressed excitement ahead of his return to Liverpool as Real Madrid manager. The 43-year-old played for the Merseyside club between 2004 and 2009 and was part of their 2005 Champions League-winning squad.

Speaking in a press conference on Monday, Alonso told reporters:

“It's a big match, a classic in European football in terms of history and the present. It's a match that the fans love to watch and both Trent and I have our history here and it's always good to return to a place that has loved you so much. Tomorrow we'll do our jobs, which is to perform well and get a good result.”

He added:

“Many have experienced the atmosphere at Anfield for the worse recently and for the better not so long ago. There are moments in games when it feels like the stadium is roaring and a positive energy is created for them, but we have players with a lot of experience and in heated atmospheres, they respond well and are more motivated. I have a lot of faith in them. It's the players who are on the pitch. I'm on the bench and there are moments when I'm out of control. The mental preparation for these matches is important and the quality of both football and personality will be very important tomorrow.”

Interestingly, Real Madrid and Liverpool each other in the league phase of last season’s Champions League at the same venue, and it was Liverpool who came out on top with a 2-0 win.

Edited by Ezekiel Olamide