"I won when it mattered" - Real Madrid icon Gareth Bale makes claim when queried about his poor record at Liverpool's Anfield

Real Madrid legend Gareth Bale has addressed talk about his poor record against Liverpool at Anfield throughout his career. The former Wales international faced the Reds on several occasions while playing for Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid.

Once the most expensive player in the world when he swapped north London for Madrid in 2013, Bale enjoyed a hugely successful career before retiring in January 2023. The fleet-footed forward won the UEFA Champions League five times in his time at the Santiago Bernabeu, including thrice in a row between 2016 and 2018.

Ahead of Real Madrid and Liverpool renewing hostilities in the group phase of the UEFA Champions League at Anfield on Wednesday night, cameras caught up with the now-retired Gareth Bale on TNT Sports. Answering a question on his poor record at Anfield during his career, the Welshman responded cheekily. He said (via @MadridXtra):

“My record at Anfield is not the best? But I won when it mattered.”

Gareth Bale faced Liverpool 12 times in his professional career, winning six games, losing four, and drawing two. Bale played five times at Anfield, all in the colours of Tottenham Hotspur, and lost three of those games, drawing the other two.

Bale played only two games against the Reds in a Real Madrid shirt, one of which was the final of the UEFA Champions League in 2018. A memorable day for the Welshman, he came off the bench to score a brace, including a sensational overhead kick, to lead his side to a 3-1 victory. He was on the bench in the 2022 final as Los Blancos claimed a 1-0 win.

Carlo Ancelotti receives boost for Real Madrid-Liverpool clash

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has received a boost as his side prepare to take on Liverpool in their UEFA Champions League encounter at Anfield. The Italian manager has welcomed two key players back to his squad for the clash.

Left-back Ferland Mendy has been included in the starting XI for Los Blancos, having been out of action for a while. Similarly, Lucas Vazquez has been named among the substitutes for the Spanish side after recovering from an injury picked up against Osasuna on November 9.

Federico Valverde starts at right-back as he did at the weekend against Leganes, but has relinquished the captain's armband to Luka Modric. With Vinicius Jr out injured, Ancelotti has opted for Brahim Diaz to lead the line for Los Blancos.