Real Madrid vs Liverpool will always be a collision that immediately jumps from the fixture list.
With a total of 19 European kroner between them, the pair are two of the most decorated teams in the competition’s history and you can guarantee that you get a blockbuster when they play.
That’s if Brendan Rodgers is not responsible anyway …
The last time these two Goliaths met in Madrid was way back in 2014, and then-Liverpool boss Rodgers effectively threw in the towel. After being beaten 3-0 by Los Blancos at Anfield two weeks earlier, he chose to leave Steven Gerrard, Philippe Coutinho, Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling and Mario Balotelli from his starting XI.
Liverpool’s bench had a number of key players on it for their clash with Real | Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno / Getty Images
With such a star-studded bench, the team magazine at night was really, really interesting. Apparently Real knocked out comfortable winners, where the 1-0 score did little to give a true reflection of a game where they had 27 shots to the red four.
Anyway, enough of Rodger’s bashing, let’s take a look at said starting XI from the night and find out where they are now …
Alvaro Arbeloa played against his former club | PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU / Getty Images
Iker Casillas (GK) – It is fair to say that Iker Casillas had one of his quieter nights against one of Europe’s so – called big hitters, with Liverpool testing him only once in the full 90 minutes. After moving to Porto in 2015, the Spaniard retired in 2020 and is now a deputy to the Real Madrid Foundation CEO.
Alvaro Arbeloa (RB) – After developing at the Real Madrid academy, Alvaro Arbeloa returned to the Spanish capital in 2009 after a two-year stint with Liverpool. In 2020, it was revealed that the Spaniard would join Real’s academy staff when he worked towards his Spanish FA PRO license.
Raphael Varane (CB) – Although this conflict was almost seven years ago, you will notice an ongoing theme in large parts of the Real Madrid side from 2014; most are still at the club. Varane was billed as a future star when these two sides last met in Madrid and it is fair to say that he has not become too bad; The Frenchman is an important part of Zinedine Zidane’s side this day and has picked up three La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns at the club.
Sergio Ramos (CB) – Ramos is probably more important than ever for Real right now, although his future at the club is still in doubt. The Real captain is said to be keen on extending his stay at the Santiago Bernabeu, but contract talks are apparently ongoing.
Marcelo (LB) – Another player still at the club. Marcelo has been a great servant to Real since he started in 2006, collecting over 350 league matches for the club and becoming an integral part of their success.
Modric was among the world’s best midfielders Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno / Getty Images
James Rodriguez (RM) – Few would have predicted that James would play his football at Liverpool’s city rivals in 2021. No disrespect for Everton, but they are hardly one of the butterflies of European football. Their acquisition of the Colombian last summer was a fantastic coup for the club.
Luka Modric (CM) – Modric’s career has gone from strength to strength at Real. The midfield maestro has been at the center of their achievements since moving to Spain in 2012 and he was rightly awarded the 2018 Ballon d’Or. At 35, his career is undoubtedly in the twilight, but his importance to Zidane’s side can not be underestimated.
Toni Kroos (CM) – Alongside Modric, Kroos has been the majority of his real career. Like the former Tottenham man, Kroos has been the cornerstone of Real’s success in recent seasons.
Isco (LM) – While Isco may be in the same boat as Modric and Kroos when it comes to still being at Real, his career with the Spanish giants has not been on the same level. The 28-year-old is essentially a bit-part player under Zidane these days, with substitute appearances about as close as he gets to regular first-team action.
Cristiano Ronaldo was at the top of his game Shaun Botterill / Getty Images
Karim Benzema (CF) – The scorer for the game’s only goal from the 2014 collision at the Santiago Bernabeu. Not much has changed in almost seven years to be fair. The Frenchman still scores for fun, the only difference is that he is now the principal after a certain person’s departure …
Cristiano Ronaldo (CF) – Of course we’re referring to this man. Ronaldo is the main man wherever he goes, although his incantation with Juventus will not plan. While the Portuguese talisman continues to record ridiculous goal figures at the age of 36, the old lady still can not get her hands on the Champions League crown and has now resigned to lose her Italian title.
Just then, let’s look at this shambles of a Liverpool side …
Kolo, Kolo, Kolo, Kolo, Kolo, Kolo, Kolo TOURE! | JAVIER SORIANO / Getty Images
Simon Mignolet (GK) – First and foremost, it’s the circus’ leader, Mignolet. The Belgian international endured a turbulent time at Anfield where he pretty much got the start of Liverpool fans’ anger every two weeks. He did well to keep the score down to 1-0 when the two sides met in 2014 and he is now betting back in Belgium with Club Brugge.
Javier Manquillo (RB) – Manquillo spent a year at Liverpool from Atletico Madrid before being sent to Sunderland and Marseille. In 2017, he moved to Newcastle where he is struggling to hold down a place in the starting XI after a few seasons.
Martin Skrtel (CB) – Skrtel was certainly not what you would call a reliable midfielder during his time at Liverpool, but his no-nonsense defensive strategy saw him win over many fans at the club. The former Slovak international moved to the Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir in 2019, although he terminated his contract in January 2021 after suffering an ACL injury.
Kolo Toure (CB) – Toure’s legend will always live on in the form of p * ssed up dart fans who continuously sing his name after six pints. As for the man himself, he still works with Rodgers and is part of the first team’s coaching staff in Leicester City.
Alberto Moreno (LB) – In retrospect, how, in fact, did the Liverpool defense score just one goal against Real Madrid? Alberto Moreno’s time in Liverpool was really entertaining, it’s just a shame he could not defend. The Spaniard is now back in his home country and plays with La Liga outfit Villarreal.
Joe Allen is no longer playing on the same stage PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU / Getty Images
Emre Can (CM) – While much of this Liverpool side has seen their career go downhill since 2014, Can’s CV is impressive to say the least. The German moved to Juventus in 2018 and – after a successful loan solution – secured a transfer to the Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund in 2021.
Lucas Leiva (DM) – Lucas Leiva is another who was probably limited in ability but became something of a hero at Anfield. The Brazilian moved to Lazio in 2017 after a decade on Merseyside and he is still in the Serie A kit now.
Joe Allen (CM) – The beautiful man himself. It’s truly one of life’s tragedies that Joe Allen will no longer hit Brendan Rodger’s arms every morning during training. Instead, he pulls the strings in the championship with Stoke City – and by pulling the strings we mean to produce 6/10 performances at a moderate pace.
Fabio Borini vs. Sergio Ramos * seems * a mismatch | Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno / Getty Images
Lazar Markovic (RW) – Certainly one of Liverpool’s strangest transfers from the Premier League era. Lazar Markovic arrived at Anfield in 2014 after the Reds agreed a £ 20m fee with Benfica. Markovic was effectively invisible throughout the defeat to Real in 2014, and after many loans, he eventually secured a permanent move to the Serbian side Partizan where he has become an important part of their team.
Fabio Borini (CF) – Take just a second to consider the fact that Fabio Borini’s CV has clubs including Milan, Chelsea, Roma and Liverpool, but his 12-year senior career has yielded just 47 goals in all competitions. The man’s agent deserves a medal. After three goals for Liverpool, he secured a permanent move to Sunderland in 2015, and he currently plays in Turkey with Fatih Karagumruk.
Adam Lallana (LW) – Adam Lallana’s career has not exactly been bad, but to be honest it could have been so much better. One of the most technically talented players England have produced in a long time, his career was marred by injuries and he is now trying to keep Brighton in the Premier League.
