Coach Arne Slot is particularly cautious about Real in their upcoming rematch.

Coach Arne Slot expressed his opinions regarding fellow coach Xabi Alonso before the Champions League encounter between Liverpool and Real Madrid.

The highlight of the fourth matchday in the UEFA Champions League group stage will be the showdown between Liverpool and Real Madrid, two clubs with a rich history in European competitions.

At the pre-match press conference, Coach Arne Slot praised the capabilities of his colleague Xabi Alonso, acknowledging Real’s impressive achievements, while also emphasizing that Liverpool remains a formidable team not to be underestimated.

Specifically, the Dutch strategist stated: "In my opinion, it’s difficult to compare this match with last season. Back then, Real Madrid suffered many injuries playing here, but now they have almost a full squad and have retained most of their lineup. I see many similarities between the two seasons. Xabi Alonso is doing very well at Real Madrid, but before him, Carlo Ancelotti also achieved great success and won numerous titles.

They only added a few new players, which might slightly affect their style of play, but clearly, Real Madrid was very strong last season and remains so now. They are always a major force in this competition; I’m not sure how many times they have reached the semifinals or beyond in recent years, but they are truly an excellent team. However, we are also a very strong side."

Last season, under Coach Arne Slot, Liverpool secured a convincing victory over Real, then managed by Carlo Ancelotti, also during the group stage. However, things could be different this time, especially as Los Blancos are thriving under Xabi Alonso, a former Liverpool player.

Notably, Slot has previously faced Alonso last season when Liverpool defeated Bayer Leverkusen decisively in the group stage, which has somewhat boosted their confidence for the upcoming match.

Additionally, Slot and his team are likely to face Trent Alexander-Arnold, a player who spent his entire youth career at Anfield before moving to Bernabeu this past summer.

Before this reunion, Slot believes fans will warmly welcome the English international’s return, though it remains uncertain whether he will play.

The 47-year-old coach added: "I can only speak about how I will greet him. I have many fond memories, both of the person and the player. He was our vice-captain, someone I deeply respected throughout last season. The experiences working with him left a positive impression, and even watching him play on TV always gave me good feelings.

I clearly remember many great moments when he wore the Liverpool jersey. So, he will definitely receive a warm welcome from me. First, we’ll see if he plays tomorrow and how the fans react. I can’t predict that, but one thing is certain: he will always be greeted by me with the utmost respect."

The match between Liverpool and Real Madrid will kick off at 3:00 AM tomorrow (November 5).

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