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Champions League | Group Stage
Oct 22, 2014 at 7.45pm UK
 
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Ronaldo (23'), Benzema (30', 41')

Jamie Carragher wants Mario Balotelli dropped for Real Madrid visit

Jamie Carragher calls on Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers to drop Mario Balotelli for Wednesday's Champions League clash with Real Madrid.

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has urged manager Brendan Rodgers to drop Mario Balotelli and play Raheem Sterling up front in Wednesday's clash with Real Madrid.

Balotelli's goalscoring woes continued on Sunday as the £16m summer signing missed a series of chances - including an open goal - in the Reds' 3-2 win away to Queens Park Rangers.

With their Champions League encounter with the title holders on the horizon, Carragher champions the idea of benching the misfiring striker to facilitate the pacey Sterling in a central role.

"He doesn't run around enough," he told Sky Sports News. "Against Real Madrid you've got to get that crowd going. You need to get back to Liverpool of last year and that pressing.

"It's going on too long now and we can't keep waiting. It's a huge game and Liverpool have to get something from it. I would put Raheem Sterling in there because he can run in behind and Liverpool may have to counter-attack a lot of the game.

"Sterling can also press from the front. He doesn't have to play right up front and he can come back and help the midfield. They can't have any passengers against Real Madrid."

Twenty-four-year-old Balotelli is without a goal in six games for the Merseysiders, with his only strike coming in last month's win at home to Ludogorets Razgrad.

Wednesday's clash at Anfield kicks off at 7.45pm.

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Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his goal with Real Madrid's Portuguese defender Pepe during the Spanish league football match on October 18, 2014
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League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Liverpool660018
2Barcelona650115
3B. Leverkusen641113
4Inter Milan641113
5Brest641113
6Arsenal641113
7Aston Villa641113
8Lille641113
9Bayern640212
10Dortmund640212
11Atletico640212
12AC Milan640212
13Atalanta632111
14Juventus632111
15Benfica631210
16Feyenoord631210
17Brugge631210
18Monaco631210
19Sporting Lisbon631210
20Real Madrid63039
21Celtic62319
22Man City62228
23PSV62228
24Dinamo Zagreb62228
25PSG62137
26Stuttgart62137
27Shakhtar61144
28Sparta Prague61144
29Sturm Graz61053
30Girona61053
31Red Star61053
32Salzburg61053
33Bologna60242
34RB Leipzig60060
35Slovan Bratislava60060
36Young Boys60060


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