Real Madrid announce team to face Liverpool two hours before clash as Carlo Ancelotti springs selection surprise
REAL MADRID named their team to take on Liverpool over TWO HOURS before scheduled kick off.
The two sides meet in a rematch of last year’s Champions League final in a mouthwatering last-16 encounter.
PAReal Madrid named their starting line up to face Liverpool over two hours before kick off[/caption]
The Spanish giants went early on releasing team news, doing so on Twitter exactly two hours and four minutes before kick off at Anfield.
And some fans on social media were surprised by the selection of Rodrygo, with Dani Ceballos expected to have been given the nod.
One wrote: “Madrid is wrong not to play with the 4 midfielders…!!! I preferred Ceballos or Kroos in the midfield not Rodrygo…!!!”
Former Arsenal man Ceballos has started the last five La Liga games in a row but is only good enough for the bench this evening.
Rodrygo has played up front recently while Karim Benzema has been dealing with an injury.
The Frenchman returns to the team against Liverpool, but Rodrygo also keeps his place in the XI.
Thibaut Courtois starts in goal for Real Madrid, looking to repeat his heroics from last year’s final against the Reds.
Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger, Eder Miliatao and David Alaba have been named in what appears to be a conventional 4-3-3 formation.
Luka Modric, Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde appear set to play in the middle, with a front three of Rodrygo, Benzema and Vinicius Jr.
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However, another option would have been for Valverde to play out wide instead of Rodrygo and Ceballos slot into midfield, with Toni Kroos expected to be missing through illness.
However, Kroos was a late addition to the matchday squad after initially not being named in the travelling party.
Aurelien Tchouameni and Ferland Mendy remain sidelined through injury.
