Real Madrid got themselves a 2-0 win over Osasuna, ahead of their big match against Liverpool in midweek. Last season’s finalists will meet each other in the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League this time around. For their part, the Reds managed to get a 2-0 win over an in-form Newcastle United as well, to prepare for their test against Los Blancos.
Liverpool have not been in great form this season by any stretch of the imagination. They sit at 8th in the Premier League table currently. In many ways, their away win against Newcastle United was their best result of the campaign till now and will come as a major boost to their confidence.
There was some bad news for Jurgen Klopp’s side coming out of the match against Newcastle United as well though. The biggest was the injury sustained by Darwin Nunez, which led him to being taken off before the hour mark.
As reported by Liverpool’s official website, Klopp said after the game:
"“The bad news [is] Darwin has something on his shoulder. We will see. In that situation I don’t know what he [the referee] whistled there against him, to be honest.“In the end, he had to go off with a shoulder issue. We need further assessment; I don’t know in the moment. In the moment it is painful, but hopefully it’s just painful and not more.”"
Klopp gives bad news for Liverpool before facing Real Madrid
Thus, it is still unclear what the situation of Nunez is. And it will be interesting to see if he is fit to feature at Anfield against Real Madrid. The Uruguayan striker certainly finds himself in a race against time to do so.
Nunez has faced his fair share of criticism since making the move to Liverpool. But that does not take away from the fact that he is the club’s second-highest scorer this season behind Mohamed Salah.
Thus, if Nunez ends up missing the game against Real Madrid, it would be a blow for Liverpool. At the same time though, Los Blancos have their fair share of problems as well, with the biggest being the status of Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos, with both missing from the squad that travelled to Osasuna at the weekend.