5 ways Liverpool can beat Real Madrid and win the UEFA Champions League

#1 Deploying a high midfield line

Kroos and Modric must be pressed high up the field by Liverpool

Real Madrid lost heavily to Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus in the Champions League this season. Both these losses came due to the opposition pressing them centrally or on the flanks. Spurs did it from the midfield with a 3-5-1-1 formation whereas Juventus targeted Real Madrid's flanks.

Both strategies bore fruit as Real Madrid were taken apart on the night. Liverpool can replicate the exact plan by deploying a high midfield line. Without the ball, the Reds must shift to a 4-5-1 formation where the midfield three must look to press Modric and Kroos and the wingers keeping Real Madrid's fullbacks in check.

A lot of Real Madrid's good attacking work come from the left. Gegenpressing, when the ball arrives on the wing or targeting Casemiro with a unified press from the forwards, can lead to Real Madrid losing possession. It is safe to say that shutting down Real Madrid's left wing can completely shut down Real Madrid.

And for this strategy to work, the trio of Henderson, Milner and Wijnaldum will have to be on the front foot from the word go as they were against AS Roma and Manchester City. Giving as less time on the ball to the likes of Kroos and Modric as possible will help Liverpool keep the midfield maestros away from dictating the game.