The Real Madrid star will miss the Champions League match with Liverpool due to injury

Liverpool will be looking to secure early and automatic qualification for the Champions League knockout stages when they host Real Madrid at Anfield in a heavyweight clash.

The Reds top the table in the revamped competition with 12 points after seeing off Milan, Bologna, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen. Last time out in this tournament, Arne Slot’s side thrashed Leverkusen 4-0 to maintain their 100 percent record.

However, on Wednesday night they will face defending champions Real Madrid, who are currently competing in the Champions League. They are 18th in the league table with six points, having won two and lost two.

Carlo Ancelotti has several injury concerns ahead of the game, with the likes of Rodrigo, Lucas Vazquez, Aurélien Chuameni, Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal and David Alaba all on the sidelines and could miss the decider.

Brazil talisman Vinicius Junior will be ruled out of the game after being diagnosed with a biceps femoris injury in his left leg, according to Real Madrid.

The club’s statement reads: “After an examination carried out today by the Real Madrid medical service on our player Vini Jr., he was diagnosed with an injury to the biceps femoris muscle of his left leg. His progress will be monitored.”

El Partidazo de COPE also reported that Vinicius Junior will be out for three weeks and will miss games against Liverpool, Getafe, Athletic, Girona, Atalanta and Rayo Vallecano. He is expected to return from injury in time for the Intercontinental Cup final on December 18.

Vinicius Junior, who lost this year’s Ballon d’Or to Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri, has scored 12 goals and provided eight assists in 18 appearances for Real Madrid in all competitions this season.

Vinicius was deployed as a striker and Kylian Mbappe started at left back in Sunday’s trip to Leganes as Madrid won 3-0 to close the gap on league leaders Barcelona.

Explaining his bold decision, Carlo Ancelotti said after the game: “It was a good performance from start to finish”

“The team was united and focused. We changed the positions of the two strikers a little: Mbappe on the outside and Vini Jr. on the inside. They did a good job. Vini Jr. helped him open the scoring.”

“He’s more used to playing on the left.” Ancelotti said about Mbappe. “Playing on the outside is more tiring than playing through the middle. Vini Jr. returned from international duty on Thursday and Mbappe was fresher than Vini Jr. He scored thanks to a fantastic assist from Vini Jr. They are both gradually improving. “