Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti refused to be drawn on speculation linking the club with a move for Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The England right-back is out of contract in the summer and speculation persists over a move to the Bernabeu.

Real currently have an issue at right-back with Dani Carvajal ruled out for the season after an ACL injury, only intensifying the Alexander-Arnold talk.

However, Ancelotti refused to be drawn on any potential interest in the 26-year-old.

“I am sorry I cannot think about Alexander-Arnold, he is not my player,” was all the former Everton boss would say ahead of their Champions League clash at Anfield.

“I consider, as usual, Liverpool with a lot of respect – a fantastic club, fantastic supporters – but I’m still an Evertonian.”

A makeshift line-up for Real Madrid, to say the least, with Carlo Ancelotti not just missing Vincius Jr but Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, Aurelien Tchouameni and Rodrygo as well.

Antonio Rudiger and Ferland Mendy are the only two regular starters available in defence, as Fede Valverde continues at right-back with academy prospect Raul Asensio at centre-back.

Kylian Mbappe and Brahim Diaz lead the attack, which will be supported by Jude Bellingham. Luka Modric and Eduardo Camavinga are joined in midfield by Arda Guler.

TEAM NEWS! As usual, Real Madrid have announced their team early. Here’s the starting line-up:

Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Rudiger, Mendy; Camavinga, Modric, Guler; Bellingham; Mbappe, Brahim

Will Liverpool’s position in the Premier League – and Sunday’s crunch match against champions Manchester City – distract the Reds from their Champions League campaign ahead of facing Real Madrid tonight?

Karl Matchett has analysed Liverpool’s start, and what it would mean for Arne Slot’s side to go 11 points clear…

As clear and emphatic as Mohamed Salah’s words on Sunday were, something was still left unsaid. The lack of an offer doesn’t mean the lack of talks.

And that is where there is much more nuance and uncertainty than in the simple words: “I haven’t received an offer.”

Those within Liverpool insist that contact with the player’s agent is ongoing and has been positive. Some close to the situation similarly interpret Salah’s words, and the timing, as trying to force the club’s hand.

More from Arne Slot on Mohamed Salah, who has scored 12 goals in all competitions for Liverpool this season.

“I don’t think Mo is distracted at all. I didn’t see that after the [Manchester] United game where he had some comments. He just kept on scoring. He is fully focused on the game. If you would have been at the Axa [training ground] today, I don’t think any player talked about it, at least when I was there. I don’t think there is any distraction for him or the players.”

Arne Slot insists Mohamed Salah’s complaints about not being offered a contract yet are no distraction for Liverpool and said the stand-off might be bringing the best from his top scorer.

Salah said on Sunday that he was “more out than in” amid protracted contract negotiations with his deal set to expire next summer and he is able to discuss a free transfer move next summer from the start of January.

The Egyptian insisted Liverpool have not yet put a new deal on the table for him, though his agent, Remy Abbas, has been in talks with the Premier League leaders’ sporting director, Richard Hughes.

But head coach Slot smiled: “The only thing I can say is if I look at my line-ups, Mo is more in than out.”

Arne Slot is releshing Liverpool’s biggest week of the season with games at home against Real Madrid and Manchester City – who have been the two best teams in Europe over the last five years.

“It is a big game, I think Real Madrid, Manchester City dominated Europe and the league for a few years now combined with Liverpool so it is a special week for us, especially because we play two times at home,” he said.

“If you are at Liverpool you always play big games but, yes, these two are special because these three clubs have dominated the league and Europe recently.

“I wasn’t aware of the fact we played them so many times. I was aware of the fact that two years ago they – I say ‘they’ because I was not part of it – were 2-0 up.”

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot admits Real Madrid carry a different aura into Champions League matches than other clubs which can give them a psychological advantage.

The Spanish club have become something of a nemesis for the Reds in recent years, beating them in the 2018 and 2022 finals in a sequence of eight matches in which they have won seven and drawn one.

Asked about whether Real have an advantage in that respect Slot said: “I think they might do.

“I cannot talk for all the other teams they face but when I worked at my former club (Feyenoord) I said many times we should take the (example) of Madrid, that they always find a way to win.

“They can win it in different ways and that is probably one of the reasons – apart from them having so much quality – that they won this tournament a lot.

“I can only speak for myself but maybe the players feel the same. They can win by being dominant and outplaying the opponent, but if it is a difficult game they always find a way to win the game or go to the next round.”

Florentino Perez may have been keen to grandstand at Real Madrid’s general assembly on Sunday, but some of his stars have been more concerned with just standing still. Almost literally. One player recently complained to friends – and anyone else who would listen – that the forward line does not run enough. It is not just one star’s gripe, either.

You only have to watch some of the matches. Madrid don’t look as finely honed as in recent seasons – and it’s not difficult to see what has changed.

Preview by Miguel Delaney