Are Liverpool the Real Deal?

Liverpool face Real Madrid in what should prove to be a very exciting battle. Both clubs are second in their respective leagues, both teams have Spanish managers, and both teams fans feel that they should be winning the league and/or Champions league more often than that.

The top five head-to-heads:

Rafael Benitez vs Juande Ramos:

This fascinating match-up pits Rafa Benitez (who this week said he will end his career at Read Madrid) against Juande Ramos, who was a first class flop at Tottenham but has turned Madrid into a side proving almost impossible to beat.

Both Ramos and Benitez are under-pressure to perform from their club's owners and failure in these matches will not go down well with the owners or fans.

Raul vs Jamie Carrager:

Raul, who has just become Real Madrid's highest scorer with 309 career goals will be trying to take his tally to 310 this week, but trying to stop him will be Jamie Carragher. Carragher has been the most consistent defender in the Champions League over the last five years and will undoubtadly rely on all his experience when Liverpool have to travel to Madrid on Wednesday. 

Gerrard vs Injury:

Is Steven Gerrard going to be 100% fit in time? The answer is no. Will he be fit enough to play some part in the first leg? Yes. It is more likely than not that Gerrard will make an appearance in Madrid, whether he plays the first hour, or comes off the bench if Liverpool need a vital away goal remains to be seen. There is no doubt, however, that Gerrard will be vital if Liverpool are to progress past Read Madrid.

Torres vs Real Madrid's Defence:

Ex-Athletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres must have been waiting for this fixture for weeks. He has never won at the Bernabeu and won't have a better chance than with this Liverpool side. He has been in fine form recently, with a brace against Chelsea and a goal against Portsmouth in the 90th minute.

If Torres is fully fit and is on top of his game, there is no way that Madrid's defence will be able to cope with his power, speed and work rate.

Anfield vs Bernabeu:

Off-field details can have a massive influence over success and failure. The Santiago Benabeu stadium in Madrid has a capacity of 80,000 and is one of the most famous stadiums in the world, hosting the Champions League Final in 2010.

Anfield has a capacity just over 45,000, but when the stadium is full of Liverpool fans, it sounds more like 90,000. The second leg at Anfield is crucial. How many times have Liverpool scraped through by the skin of their teeth in Europe (Olympiakos, Standard Liege) when they seemed down and out?

Overall it will be a very close tie, but Liverpool have enough to get through this tie. Benitez is better tactically than Ramos, and also knows the Spanish league like the back of his hand. It is likely that Ramos will, in front of his home fans, make Madrid play exciting attacking football, falling into Benitez's trap of playing as a unit and hitting them on the break with Torres, Gerrard and co.

The second leg at Anfield is very important. Come the 90th minute and Liverpool are struggling, you know that the Kop will literally suck the ball into the net to get their side through. If Liverpool can get a score-draw at the Bernabeu, Real Madrid will really have their work cut-out.