Real Madrid star set for SHOCK Anfield return

Liverpool are flying high in both the Premier League and Champions League, winning six of their last seven games during an incredibly tough run in all competitions.

The dreaded international break is now upon us, with Reds fans counting down the days until a return to Premier League action away to Southampton on November 24th.

That game should be one of Arne Slot’s most straightforward in charge, but leads into another difficult run, with games at home to Real Madrid and Manchester City followed by a trip to St. James’ Park against Newcastle before what could be the last-ever Merseyside derby to take place in Goodison Park.

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Liverpool have been perfect in the Champions League so far this season, beating AC Milan, Bologna, RB Leipzig and Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen with ease, leaving them at the top of the table and practically guaranteed a spot in the next round.

While it’s been plain sailing in Europe so far, Slot’s next opponent, Madrid, could bring trouble to Anfield – especially if they make a shock signing to boost their squad ahead of the game.

Will Ramos make a shock Madrid return?

An injury crisis has led to calls for Real Madrid to resign Ramos to bolster their defence ahead of the Liverpool match.

The Madrid legend left Los Blancos at the end of the 2022/23 season to return to his first club Sevilla, but is now a free agent having been released at the end his contract.

Madrid have had lots of fitness troubles this season, with Eder Militao the latest to be ruled out after injuring his ACL for the second time in two years during a recent match against Osasouna.

Having released Nacho Fernandez during the summer, it leaves Madrid with a hole in their defence, and former Madrid midfielder Guti has urged Carlos Ancelotti to get Ramos back at the club to fill in.

“(Militao’s injury) It doesn’t look good, hopefully the tests will prove us wrong, but it doesn’t look good. It’s the saddest part of today’s game,” Guti commented on DAZN after the match.

“He joins Carvajal’s injury. Alaba has had a very long injury, it doesn’t seem like he’ll be able to come in any time soon,” he added.

“Sergio Ramos is without a team. Right back and centre back. In this situation, I clearly see him at zero cost. He comes from playing last year in Seville and doing well.

“You can go to the market and if you really want to bring someone in, paying a lot of money, knowing that he is a player for the next 10 years, go and bring him in,” he continued. “But in December you can bring a patch if you don’t know how it will go or if you will have it the following year, I think you have it clear Sergio.”

Ramos hasn’t officially commented on the prospect of a return, but did post a video following Militao’s injury with the caption “Feeling strong!” which has sparked further speculation.

Klopp vs Ramos

There are few players as happy in a pantomime villain role as Sergio Ramos.

His challenge on Mohamed Salah in the Champions League final has gone down in infamy amongst Reds fans, after it appeared he deliberately injured the Egyptian’s shoulder, forcing him to leave the pitch in tears. Ramos was also involved in a clash with goalkeeper Loris Karius that left the goalkeeper concussed and saw him make two fatal errors as Madrid won the final 3-1.

Jurgen Klopp was particularly unhappy with Ramos at the time, and doubled-down on his opinion during a recent interview with former Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos.

Speaking on Kroos’ Einfach mal Lupen podcast, Klopp said: “Is Mr. Sergio Ramos really a good guy? He’s not my favourite player. The action was brutal. Of course, he can’t know that it’s bothering his shoulder, but we all know that he accepted it very happily.

“I could never understand that mentality, I never had players like that and, when I did, I made sure they left.”

Kroos defended Ramos, saying he was a “very good teammate,” before Klopp added: “He may not be my favourite player, but it doesn’t matter.

“I always thought that my centre-backs were good enough not to be involved in actions like that.”

Ramos’ return could lead to another intense atmosphere at Anfield in a couple of weeks – something which has stood Arne Slot’s side in good stead recently.

Liverpool’s Madrid record

Slot will be hoping to buck the recent trend against Madrid later this month, with the Spanish side proving to be the Reds’ worst nightmare in the Champions League.

In 11 games, Liverpool have won just three times, drawing one and losing seven. It’s a poor record, with most of those defeats coming in the past decade as well.

Since 2014, Liverpool have played seven, lost six against Madrid – including two painful Champions League finals.

In fact, the last time Liverpool beat Real Madrid was a 4-0 victory in Anfield in 2008/09.

Let’s hope for a repeat result this time around.

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