Liverpool Football Club and Real Madrid are two of the biggest entities in the world when you talk about club football. Their legacies and rich history's go back decades that have seen some of the very best players in the sport play for one or the other.
On Tuesday, they will once again face off in a primetime European clash as the Champions League league phase carries on with 'Los Blancos making the trip to the Northwest of England once again.
While it may feel like Liverpool have not had a lot of success against the Spanish giants, there have been moments where the Reds have gotten the better of them, including just last season.
For this piece, we are focusing strictly on the midfield as this is where so many key battles take place to decide outcomes between two very talented clubs.
With that in mind, we are taking a look at back at some of the best midfield performances by Liverpool players against Real Madrid over the years. Winning is not essential, but it certainly helps your case for inclusion.
3. Alexis Mac Allister - Nov. 27, 2024 UCL League Phase (2-0 Liverpool)
We begin our list with the most recent opportunity as nearly a year ago, give or take a few weeks, Mac Allister was instrumental in pushing the Reds to a somewhat shock victory over a visiting Real Madrid at the time.
The World Cup winner was a beast in the midfield as he snapped into tackles, drove the play forward before ultimately getting himself on the scoresheet.
His goal got the action started and brought an already raucous Anfield crowd to a fever pitch as it instilled a belief that this result was more than attainable.
Along with his goal, he completed 85% of his passes and covered over 11.1km in a true box-to-box showcase of his all-around abilities.
On a night that other midfielders on the pitch included Luka Modric and Jude Bellingham, it was Mac Allister who stole the show and left his mark on the match.
2. Steven Gerrard - Mar. 10, 2009 UCL Round of 16 (4-0 Liverpool)
We go from one outstanding midfield performance to an even better one with our greatest captain, Stevie G.
Our famed No. 8 was the man of the hour on this night as he spearheaded a Reds surge into the Champions League Quarterfinals following this second leg thrashing of Real Madrid.
Gerard bagged himself a brace on the night in what was truly one of his best showings in a Liverpool shirt. He scored his first goal with a trademark cool finish from the penalty spot before he stunningly and expertly, hit a Ryan Babel cross beyond the legendary Iker Casillas.
The half-volley finish looked to have been the final nail in the Real psyche as they wilted and could not withstand the Red storm on the night.
It was yet another example of Gerrard leading by example in a big game as he was a whirlwind all night as Liverpool ripped through their beleaguered opponents inspired by their fearless leader.
This comprehensive victory secured a third consecutive trip to the last 8 of the Champions League and it all began with this vintage Gerrard performance.
1. Graeme Souness - May 27, 1981 - European Final (1-0 Liverpool)
As great as the performances by Mac Allister and Gerrard were, they did not take place on the biggest stage in a European Cup Final.
In what was a tight and tense affair that was decided by a goal from the marauding Alan Kennedy, it was Souness that deserved all the plaudits that came his way when all was said and done.
He controlled the tempo from the midfield as he shutdown any true Real Madrid threats while also getting forward himself to get some sweet strikes on goal in the flow of the match.
He did not allow Madrid's midfield to get a true foothold in the match which allowed the Reds to keep pushing for the winning goal that would eventually come their way. It might not have been the flashiest performance, but his grit and determination were needed in the heart of the park.
His passing range allowed the attack to flow from back to front without hitting a snag and he was lauded by French and English outlets for his efforts in the following days.