Arne Slot's programme notes: 'This is a special tie

The Reds got back to winning ways in the Premier League last Saturday night with a 2-0 result against Aston Villa at Anfield.

Just three days on, they are back on home soil to host Real in a repeat of a fixture they were victorious in 12 months ago.

In his matchday programme notes, head coach Slot describes his anticipation and how the home crowd can be so influential for his players again.

"Clearly this is a fixture that will get a lot of attention throughout football and it is one that everyone involved has looked forward to since the draw was made," he writes.

"For us, it is an opportunity to test ourselves against the most successful club in the history of the European Cup once again. That it is the second time in a year that we have been able to do this in front of our own fans does not detract to the sense of occasion in any way. If anything, it adds to it because we know already how special a tie like this can be.

"This time last year we were able to take the points on a night which was memorable for a number of reasons. Everyone of a Liverpool persuasion will have their own – the goals, Caoimhin Kelleher's penalty save, Conor Bradley's tackle – but for me what sticks in my mind the most is the level we had to play at in order to take the points.

"It was a night, like against Aston Villa on Saturday, when players and crowd were of a really high standard, pushing one another on, coming through moments of difficulty and eventually coming out on top against a team which everyone knows is one of the very best in Europe.

"I mention this not because of nostalgia or to enjoy these memories. It is because I know all of us will need to be at a similar standard tonight. Real are top of La Liga having won 10 games out of 11 and they also have a 100 per cent record in the Champions League so they are clearly in top form.

"This record should not and will not intimidate us, but it does inform us in terms of the need for us to be at our best. After a difficult run, Saturday was a step in the right direction and now we want to continue moving forward so it makes sense that we view tonight's game as another chance to keep on doing that.

"I would like to welcome Xabi Alonso, his players and staff and the directors of Real Madrid to Anfield for this fixture. There is a great deal of respect between our two clubs so hopefully this will continue after our latest encounter, even though everyone involved knows how keenly it will be contested.

"Obviously I do not know which team Xabi will select but the likelihood is that Trent Alexander-Arnold will be in the squad after injury. At Liverpool, we know better than most how much quality Trent has and on a personal level I will always appreciate Trent's contribution to our title-winning team last season because he was a big part of what we achieved. It will be good to see him again, even though it will be strange seeing him in white rather than red.

"Trent is just one of many, many very good players at Real. Everywhere you look there is top-class talent. The good news is our own team is also of a very high level so the challenge is for us to show our own qualities and to do everything that we can to prevent them from showing theirs. This will not be easy of course and it goes without saying that we will need our fans to be with us, as they always are.

"On that subject, I would like to reiterate my personal gratitude for the support that we received at the weekend. This was not a surprise in any way because everything I know about the Liverpool fans tells me that they are special in the way they back their team when things are not going so well, but to be on the receiving end of this support – both collectively and individually – is something that none of us will ever take for granted.

"Just as importantly, it gives us extra excitement going into games like tonight's because we know what is possible when we are together on and off the pitch. Hopefully it can be the same again and between us we can take another step forward for Liverpool."

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