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As Liverpool and Real Madrid renew their storied European rivalry under the Anfield lights, football fans are preparing for another gripping Champions League encounter. Both sides arrive in fine form – Liverpool rediscovering their rhythm under Arne Slot, and Real Madrid flourishing under Xabi Alonso’s tactical precision. This Bet Builder focuses on key attacking figures expected to shape the game through their intensity, pace, and creativity.
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Below we break down three selections that highlight where the match’s physical and technical battles are most likely to unfold.
Here’s our Bet Builder pick for Liverpool vs Real Madrid, which has been placed with Bet365:
Why this pick
Mohamed Salah remains Liverpool’s most persistent source of incision on the right, continually driving inside onto his left and forcing contact as defenders scramble to shut the lane. Real Madrid are depleted at the back, with full-back and centre-back options shuffled, so their structure on that flank is likely to be patched together. When Federico Valverde deputises in wide areas or when the line steps up unevenly, Salah’s quick feet and body feints tend to draw tactical nudges, pull-backs and late clips. Anfield’s intensity encourages repeated one-v-one duels, and Slot’s scheme funnels early ball to Salah to isolate his direct opponent. In transitions and set-play second phases, he receives under pressure and shields effectively, inviting fouls to halt momentum. Given Liverpool are buoyed by a return to form and will commit numbers forward, Salah being impeded on multiple occasions feels a strong angle in a high-tempo contest.
Why this pick
Vinícius Júnior thrives when play breaks, carrying at speed into exposed channels and committing defenders who are retreating. Liverpool’s press under Arne Slot is front-foot and can leave space outside the centre-backs; when the first line is beaten, recovery runs often end in cynical contact to kill the counter. With Andy Robertson aggressively stepping up and the Reds squeezing the touchline, Vinícius will repeatedly receive under duress and look to burst beyond the full-back. His habit of inviting the first challenge, rolling hips and accelerating again makes him a magnet for tugs and trips. Real Madrid are ruthless on turnovers and will target quick diagonals into the Brazilian, increasing his touches in contested zones. In a match primed for transitions and broken play around halfway, expect Liverpool’s defenders and covering midfielders to resort to small infringements to slow him down, pushing him over the two-foul threshold.
Why this pick
Kylian Mbappé’s threat between the lines and on the shoulder forces centre-backs into uncomfortable decisions: step tight and risk a spin, or drop off and concede territory. Liverpool’s relatively high line under Slot is designed to compress the middle third, but that approach suits Mbappé’s explosive separation in behind. When he receives to feet on the half-turn he draws arms across the body; when he darts beyond the last man, defenders often accept a foul rather than allow a clean break. Real Madrid’s recent purple patch has been built on fast transitions with Mbappé central to the pattern, so Liverpool’s best form of disruption will include tactical fouling. Expect contact from recovery defenders and screening midfielders during breakaways, plus minor obstructions when he attacks the inside-left channel. The game state, tempo, and his gravity in possession all point towards multiple infringements against him over ninety minutes.
This builder targets fouls on elite dribblers in a high-intensity tie. Salah attacks a reshuffled right side, Vinícius exploits space against Liverpool’s press, and Mbappé draws cynical contact on bursts through the middle and inside-left lanes.
Liverpool vs Real Madrid Bet Builder Tip
Mohamed Salah to Be Fouled 2+ Times
Mohamed Salah’s influence in Liverpool’s forward play is impossible to overlook. The Egyptian has rediscovered sharpness in recent outings, notching his 250th goal for the Reds against Aston Villa and serving as the creative heartbeat of Slot’s front line. Salah’s movement off the right flank consistently draws contact, as opposition defenders struggle to contain his low centre of gravity and rapid changes of direction.
Real Madrid’s makeshift defence – already stretched by the absences of Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rüdiger, and David Alaba – will likely face serious challenges against Liverpool’s most direct attacker. With Federico Valverde potentially filling in at full-back, the Spaniards’ defensive shape could be exposed by Salah’s acceleration and ability to cut inside onto his left foot. In matches where Real’s defensive line is shuffled, opponents frequently resort to tactical fouling to slow transitions, and Salah’s record in such high-tempo encounters supports this pick.
Moreover, Anfield’s atmosphere tends to embolden Liverpool’s attacking intent, pushing Salah to take on defenders more aggressively. Given Real Madrid’s vulnerability in wide areas and Salah’s centrality to Liverpool’s pressing and counter-pressing sequences, it would be no surprise to see him fouled multiple times over the ninety minutes.
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Vinícius Júnior to Be Fouled 2+ Times
Vinícius Júnior’s rise as one of Europe’s most uncontainable wingers makes this selection a logical inclusion. The Brazilian thrives in open spaces, using his pace and skill to drive directly at defenders, often forcing them into risky challenges. Against a Liverpool backline anchored by Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté, Vinícius’s dribbling could provoke repeated fouls, particularly when Real Madrid attempt to counter Liverpool’s pressing structure.
Arne Slot’s side press with aggression, leaving gaps that a player of Vinícius’s intelligence and flair can exploit. His one-on-one duels are frequent and physically demanding, and his willingness to draw defenders in makes him a magnet for fouls. With Andy Robertson expected to start at left-back, Liverpool will rely on his positional discipline and timing to manage the threat, yet even Robertson’s experience may not prevent him from halting Vinícius through contact.
The Brazilian has already been fouled several times per match in this season’s La Liga and European fixtures, reflecting both his importance and the frustration he causes defenders. Given Liverpool’s intent to limit space in midfield, Vinícius will likely carry the ball into congested zones where challenges are inevitable. Expect him to absorb several fouls as Real Madrid look to break through Liverpool’s defensive block.
Kylian Mbappé to Be Fouled 2+ Times
Kylian Mbappé’s inclusion adds another layer to this Bet Builder. The French superstar, operating either centrally or drifting left, has been central to Real Madrid’s attacking rhythm under Alonso. His pace remains his most potent weapon, but his movement between the lines also invites frequent fouls from defenders unwilling to risk being beaten for speed.
Liverpool’s centre-backs, particularly Konaté and Van Dijk, will be tested by Mbappé’s runs in behind. Slot’s tactical structure asks his defenders to hold a relatively high line, and that risk can expose space for Real’s forwards to exploit. When Mbappé makes those characteristic darting runs or isolates a defender one-on-one, the simplest defensive solution is often to commit a foul rather than concede a clear chance.
Furthermore, Real Madrid’s recent form – 13 wins in 14 matches – demonstrates how crucial Mbappé’s involvement is in their build-up and counter-attacks. Liverpool will need to disrupt his rhythm, and fouling him in transition may become an unfortunate necessity. In a match where both sides are expected to press and counter with intensity, Mbappé being fouled twice or more feels a highly plausible outcome. least twice feels probable. His reputation for durability and composure only reinforces this selection — a pragmatic inclusion in a robust Bet Builder.
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