Real Madrid and Liverpool are set to contest a high profile Champions League Round of 16 tie this season, after playing the final last time around, with Los Blancos coming out on top. It will be interesting to see how things play out at Anfield in the first leg this mid-week, with neither team in top form in recent times.
Liverpool put in a big performance this weekend though, getting a 2-0 win away against in-form Newcastle United. Considering the form that Jurgen Klopp’s side have been in lately, not many people would have expected the result.
Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo were on the score sheet for Liverpool on the day. But at the same time, the Reds suffered a potential injury blow as well, just days before the first leg against Real Madrid.
As reported by GOAL, Nunez sustained an apparent shoulder problem in a clash with Kieran Tripper. The Uruguayan striker was taken off.
Liverpool suffer injury blow days before facing Real Madrid in the Champions League
It is safe to say that Klopp will want to have Nunez available, when the Reds welcome Real Madrid to Anfield a few days later.
The striker has faced a lot of criticism this season after making a big move from Benfica in the summer. But his goalscoring record is not terrible. According to stats from Transfermarkt, Nunez has scored 10 goals and provided 4 assists in 27 appearances while playing 1607 minutes of football in total.
Of course, it is worth pointing out that Real Madrid have their fair share of fitness issues at the moment as well. The big question mark going into the match against Liverpool will be regarding the situation of Toni Kroos and Karim Benzema. Both of them are doubts going into the trip to Anfield and were left out of the squad to face Osasuna at the weekend.