WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014 SPORTS Rodgers calls on Reds to rise to Real challenge LIVERPOOL: Brendan Rodgers has challenged his Liverpool players to rise to the occasion when they face holders Real Madrid in a crucial Champions League showdown at Anfield today. Rodgers’ side can’t afford to lose any more ground in the race to qualify for the knockout stages after a shock loss against Basel in their previous Group B match. The Reds have been well below their best of much of the season and there were more worry- ing signs for Rodgers on Sunday when QPR, the Premier League’s bottom club, out-played Liverpool for long periods of an chaotic encounter. LONDON: Arsenal’s English striker Danny Welbeck (center) attends training at their Liverpool eventually won 3-2 despite twice London Colney facility in Hertfordshire, ahead of the UEFA Champions League Group squandering the lead in the final minutes. Given D football match against RSC Anderlecht. — AFP Liverpool’s defenders had huge trouble with QPR’s willing but limited strike partnership of Arsenal’s injuries offer Bobby Zamora and Charlie Austin, it would be no surprise if Rodgers had suffered a few sleepless hope to Anderlecht nights contemplating how his creaky defence will deal with Real’s breathtaking array of attack- BRUSSELS: If Anderlecht are to have any Saturday and we’ll try to find a solution for ing talent. Even if Wales winger Gareth Bale is realistic chance of prolonging their involve- the next games.” sidelined by a buttock muscle injury, Madrid boss ment in the Champions League beyond the Carlo Ancelotti has Cristiano Ronaldo in arguably group stage, a home win over Arsenal MASSIVE ACHIEVEMENT the best form of his majestic career, while the today is paramount. While failure to reach the knockout likes of Karim Benzema, James Rodriguez, Toni The Belgium side are joint bottom of rounds for the 12th consecutive season Kroos and Luka Modric comprise a formidable Group D with one point from their opening would represent failure for Arsenal, getting support act for the spotlight-hogging Portugal two games, two points behind Arsenal and there would be a massive achievement for star. Ronaldo has broken a 71-year La Liga record by scoring 15 goals in the first eight matches of five behind leaders Borussia Dortmund. Anderlecht. Since 2000-01 when they LONDON: Liverpool’s Adam Lallana (center) trains with teammates at Anfield Stadium. the season and is also just two short of Real leg- Arsenal are not firing on all cylinders, reached the now defunct second group Liverpool will play Real Madrid in a Champion’s League Group B soccer match today. — AP however, and Saturday’s 2-2 home draw stage, they have finished bottom of their end Raul’s Champions League record of 71 goals. with Hull City left Arsene Wenger’s side 11 group seven times, including last season With a trip to Madrid next up in a fortnight, reward but it is a game we want to go and win. well on course for the last 16 and could be forgiv- points off the pace in the Premier League. when they managed a solitary point. Rodgers knows a defeat today would leave “Anfield is a special place for a Champions en for having an eye on the first El Clasico of the The London club are still formidable They also have failed to win any of their Liverpool in severe danger of bowing out of the League football game and we are really looking season at home to Barcelona on Saturday. opponents, but if ever there was a good last 10 Champions League matches and competition at the first hurdle. forward to it. “But you have to be careful - they Bale was an unused substitute at Levante and time to face the Gunners it might be when were held 1-1 at Mechelen on Sunday, their Yet European nights at Anfield, when the are the best counter-attacking team in the world Ancelotti insisted he wouldn’t take any risks with they are stretched with record signing fifth draw in 11 Belgium league matches club’s supporters routinely pump up the decibel with the speed they have.” the Welshman ahead of Barcelona’s visit to the Mesut Ozil, Olivier Giroud and Mathieu this season. Arsenal have also drawn five of count to ear-splitting levels, remain a unique Bernabeu, while defender Sergio Ramos has Debuchy injured and first-choice keeper their opening eight in the Premier League experience that can unnerve even the most sea- IMPERIOUS FORM been struggling with a calf strain and could also Wojciech Szczesny suspended after his red and Wenger was in a tetchy mood after two soned performers. In contrast to Liverpool’s lethargic perform- be sidelined at Anfield. card against Galatasaray. more points were dropped against Hull at Rodgers hopes the do-or-die nature of the tie, ances of late, Madrid arrive on Merseyside in If Bale does miss out, Ronaldo will shoulder Theo Walcott is on the verge of a return the weekend. Anderlecht manager Besnik combined with the Anfield atmosphere, will lift imperious form. Ancelotti’s side have won their more of the creative burden and Real’s Alvaro after a long-standing knee injury while Hasi believes both sides find themselves in his team out of their current malaise. last seven matches in all competitions, scoring 32 Arbeloa, a former Liverpool defender, expects his Aaron Ramsey (hamstring) and Jack a similar position. “We find it difficult to win, “Whenever you play in the big games the goals in the process after routing Levante 5-0 on supremely confident team-mate to have no Wilshere (knee) are slight doubts but and that worries me,” Hasi told Sporza web- great competitors come out and I have no doubt Saturday. “I think we are arriving well into this problems taking the leading role. should be available. site. “Wednesday against Arsenal expecta- with my players as their mentality is very strong,” week,” Ancelotti said. “We have time to recover “There’s no doubt that Cristiano is the best Reserve keeper David Ospina is also tions are high. They are doing the same as Rodgers said. and then think about the game on Wednesday.” player in the world at the moment,” Arbeloa said. injured so third-choice Emiliano Martinez is us but hopefully we can boost our level a “It is a really exciting game today. The work we With six points already secured from their “No-one can imagine what he does. It’s a privi- expected to start for Arsenal. Despite the bit.” Steven Defour will be Anderlecht’s main put in over the last season or so means this is our opening two Champions League games, Real are lege to have Cristiano with us.”— AFP injuries, midfielder Mathieu Flamini says attacking threat while the Belgian league there are no excuses for a moderate start to leaders will hope that international defend- the season. er Anthony Vanden Borre may be able to “We’re having injuries but we don’t want play some part after playing an hour for to hide behind any excuses,” said Flamini. Belgium’s under-21s last week, having been “We’re facing the truth - we didn’t win on sidelined with a calf injury. — Reuters Dortmund out to brush off horror form at Galatasaray ISTANBUL: Borussia Dortmund are look- Bundesliga table-their worst league start ing to brush off their nightmarish for 27 years. Klopp admitted to feeling Bundesliga form when the Group D lead- “helpless” in the wake of Saturday’s 2-1 ers protect their perfect Champions defeat at Cologne, their firSt defeat in the League record at Turkish giants city for more than a decade, to leave Galatasaray today. them with just a point from their last five Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp league games. described his side’s 3-0 win at Anderlecht “We have to correct our mistakes now, earlier this month as “perfect”, but things not tomorrow or the day after,” fumed are far from rosy now for Borussia after Klopp. “We need to get ourselves out of three straight Bundesliga defeats. this rut and no one will do it for us.” With just a point from their first two Having beaten Arsenal 2-0 in their European games, Galatasaray are third in opening game, Klopp’s side have yet to the group and face Dortmund with the concede a goal in the competition and Germans low on confidence despite top- have been boosted by the return to fit- ping the Champions League group. ness of three key players. The 2013 Champions League finalists They have Germany midfielders Marco have plummeted to 14th in the Reus and Ilkay Gundogan, as well as Armenia’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan back after injuries. Reus managed more shots on goal than the entire Cologne team com- SPAIN: Malmo’s players exercise during a training session in Madrid. Malmo will play Atletico de Madrid today in a Group A Champions League match. — AP Matches on TV bined and finishing is a factor for (Local Timings) Dortmund in Turkey. There was more bad news for Klopp Turan shrugs off criticism from Cologne as defender Erik Durm, UEFA Champions League who was injured in the warm-up, also misses the trip to Istanbul with a thigh of Atletico style of play Olympiacos v Juventus 21:45 strain and his place at left-back is likely to beIN SPORTS 3 HD go to Kevin Grosskreutz. MADRID: Atletico Madrid midfielder Arda Turan will need to take care against Malmo and we have a Vicente Calderon through injury which could mean Atletico v Malmo 21:45 Galatasaray lost 4-1 at Arsenal three beIN SPORTS 6 HD does not care what people think about their foot- lot of respect for them,” said Turan.