It will be a grudge match on Saturday when longtime European powers Liverpool and Real Madrid square off for the 2021-22 UEFA Champions League title. Liverpool beat Real in the 1981 Champions League final, and Los Blancos returned the favor in 2018. A pair of goalkeeper blunders and a hard tackle that forced star Mohamed Salah off kept Liverpool from winning the title. It won it the following year for its sixth title, while Real has won a record 13 Champions League crowns. The Reds are seeking their third trophy of the season to add to the FA Cup and League Cup, but they fell short in the English Premier League title race. Real won its 35th Spanish La Liga trophy and beat Premier League champion Manchester City in the semifinals. The Reds beat La Liga seventh-place team Villareal.
Kickoff is 3 p.m. ET on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Caesars Sportsbook lists Liverpool as the +101 favorite (risk $100 to win $101), while Real Madrid is the +250 underdog on the 90-minute money line in the latest Liverpool vs. Real Madrid odds. A 90-minute draw returns +270 and the over-under is set at 2.5. Before finalizing any Real Madrid vs. Liverpool picks or UEFA Champions League final predictions, you must see what renowned soccer bettor Jon (Buckets) Eimer has to say.
Eimer is a high-volume bettor who has vast knowledge of leagues and players across the globe. Since joining SportsLine, Eimer has covered the English Premier League, Serie A, the FA Cup and much more. The Indiana-based handicapper compiled a winning record of 260-133-1 with over 90 units of profit for his community on various platforms over a recent two-month stretch.
Now, Eimer has broken down the Liverpool vs. Real Madrid matchup from every angle and just locked in his coveted picks and UEFA Champions League predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are the betting lines and trends for Real Madrid vs. Liverpool:
- Liverpool vs. Real Madrid spread: Liverpool -0.5 (-105)
- Liverpool vs. Real Madrid over-under: 2.5 goals
- Liverpool vs. Real Madrid money line: Liverpool -102, Real Madrid +260, Draw +270
- LIV: Liverpool has scored two or more goals in three of its last four fixtures across all competitions
- RM: Real Madrid has recorded a shutout in two of its last three games
Why you should back Liverpool
The Reds' attack can come at defenses in waves, with Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and typically either Luis Diaz or Diogo Jota doing most of the damage. Salah had 23 goals in the Premier League, tied for the most, and has eight in UCL play, and he also led the EPL with 13 assists. Mane has 23 goals in all competitions, while Diaz has 22 and Jota has 21. That is why they scored 94 goals in league play, the third-most among teams in the big five European leagues. They should cause trouble for a Real defense that has conceded at least one goal in seven of its last 10.
Liverpool has scored at least twice in all but one Champions League game, and that was a 1-0 loss to Inter Milan. The game was inconsequential, and it is the Reds' only loss this calendar year. They are 26-7-1 in 2022, with a 72-22 goal advantage. Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, who have a combined 32 assists, are lethal on crosses and set pieces. The Reds have 23 goals off such plays, tied for most in Europe. The 2017-18 UCL loss led to the signing of elite goalkeeper Alisson, and he has 27 clean sheets in 53 matches overall this season.
Why you should back Real Madrid
Los Blancos have an elite scorer and playmaker in Karim Benzema. The 34-year-old striker led La Liga this season in goals with 27, which was nine more than his closest pursuer. He also finished second in the league with 12 assists, one assist behind the leader, Ousmane Dembele. Led by Benzema, Real Madrid scored a La Liga-best 80 goals, 12 more than Barcelona.
In addition, history is on the side of Los Blancos. Real Madrid has lifted the Champions League trophy on each of the last seven occasions when it has appeared in the final. The last time Los Blancos reached the final, they beat Liverpool, 3-1, in 2018. Real Madrid has not lost in the final since 1981.
How to make Liverpool vs. Real Madrid picks
Eimer has analyzed Liverpool vs. Real Madrid from every angle, and he is going under on the goal total. He also provides two confident best bets and has a full breakdown of the UEFA Champions League final. He's only sharing his Champions League expert picks at SportsLine.
So, who wins Real Madrid vs. Liverpool? And where does all the betting value lie? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets for Liverpool vs. Real Madrid, all from the expert who has crushed his soccer picks, and find out.
