Andros Townsend
Former England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

I was a bit surprised when I saw the article about Jude Bellingham. I think he was criticised when he was playing well and lauded when he scored the goal that got us into the quarter-finals. I think his career has just been on the up and up and he has had positive press after positive press and I think this is the first moment when he has had a little bit of negative press and maybe he didn't react as well as he would have liked to.

I don't think it crossed the line and it is just a learning curve for Jude Bellingham.

Spanish football expert Guillem Balague explains the three problems puzzling manager Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid.

They are only 21st in this Champions League table with two wins and two losses from four games.

Steve McManaman
Former Real Madrid and Liverpool winger on TNT Sports

It's been hard because the results haven't been as good as last year and Jude Bellingham's numbers haven't either.

But you can't expect them to because he hasn't been playing the same position. I think his overall performances have been excellent.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson says "there will be a lot of twists and turns" before the end of the season "and it isn't time to get carried away" by thoughts of winning the Champions League and Premier League title.

"We've shown we can win football matches, but I also think there is a long way to go," the Scotland international said. "A few of us have the experience of winning both and you need the consistency, and a bit of luck along the way, and so far we've had that.

"We are only 12 games into the Premier League and four games into the Champions League and there will be a lot of twists and turns. But when you are in a good moment you have to keep going and build that momentum.

"We are sitting nicely in both competitions. We are allowing other people to look at it more than us but we are focusing on tomorrow night [against Real Madrid].

"We are all playing with confidence and we all believe in what we are doing and that helps with results and it shows you with the two positions we are in. There is a long way to go in both competitions and it isn't time to get carried away."

Red Star Belgrade lead Stuttgart 4-1 now. The last time they scored four goals in a European Cup or Champions League game was against Northern Irish side Portadown in October 1991.

Real Madrid are still waiting for Kylian Mbappe to really get firing.

The France striker was Paris St-Germain's all-time top scorer with 256 goals in six seasons at the club.

But he has 'only' (by his standards) scored eight goals in 16 matches for Real - and only one of those was in the Champions League - against Stuttgart.

He has arguably suffered from playing centrally rather than his favourite position on the left - with Vinicius Jr the main man at Real.

However with Vinicius Jr currently out injured, this could be his big chance.

"He receives excessive criticism and what he has contributed has been very positive," said team-mate Jude Bellingham. "He's amazing in training and I'm convinced he's going to get even better.”

Eni Aluko
Former England forward on TNT Sports

Image source, Getty Images

Juventus are the fallen giants of Italian football. They haven't had much success in Serie A since 2019.

The weight of expectation on them is relentless. There is a constant demand to win and set the highest standard. They will be looking for a win in a bid to put things right.

But they've got injuries to deal with tonight and there will be a lot of pressure on Timothy Weah, who will lead the line for them.

Julien Laurens
French football expert on BBC Radio 5 Live

There is still much more to come from this Liverpool team. Arne Slot will get better at being the Liverpool manager and this team under him will learn to press better, and learn to be even more efficient.

Only a few months into the season and they have started in an incredible way.

Peter Crouch
Ex-England striker on TNT Sports

It's been an amazing start for Aston Villa in the Champions League and I hope we will see more of the same against Juventus tonight.

They had a disappointing performance in the game against Club Brugge and it looks like they are in this little period that they need to get out of.

And what a big test this is against Juventus. Villa Park will be electric.

If Liverpool win the Premier League this season it will be "largely down to Mo Salah", says former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton.

The Reds forward has been in impressive form so far this campaign and is the club's top scorer this term with 12 goals in all competitions.

Despite this, questions around Salah's future with the club continue as he enters the final months of his contract.

More fuel was added to the conversation after the win over Southampton on Sunday when the Egypt international told reporters that he is "probably more out than in" and has yet to be offered fresh terms.

"I know some people have seen it as an issue that can disrupt Liverpool’s season, but he has been the best player in the Premier League this season. He is so, so important to the way that Liverpool play," Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live breakfast.

"He is in incredible physical condition, he is in unbelievable shape, we know he is 32 so the underlying issue seems to be Liverpool don't like to give longer contracts out to players who are over 30. Van Dijk is in that category as well, but there are always exceptions to the rule.

"The fact is, Salah is still performing to a high level and he is frustrated that there has not been a deal agreed. Most Liverpool fans will be scratching their heads and wondering what on earth is going on.

"If Liverpool win the Premier League this season, it will be largely down to Mo Salah and his form. The fact that physically he is in great shape now, he is going to go on for another couple of seasons at least, he is such an important player, so why on earth are Liverpool letting this rumble on? I don't understand it."

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has said he will not need to use the Reds' two recent Champions League final losses to Real Madrid as extra motivation when the sides meet at Anfield in the same competition on Wednesday.

Van Dijk was part of the Liverpool teams that lost to Spanish giants Real in 2018 and 2022.

The Dutch defender said: "If you lose two Champions League finals I think that is very painful.

"I've never won against them in my time at Liverpool or as a time as a football player. They found a way to win always in the past against us and it was tough. They have fantastic players, a fantastic manager and it won't be any different on Wednesday.

"I'm not that kind of guy who needs extra fuel in order to be better. If you need extra motivation for a Champions League game against Real Madrid then there is something wrong. I don't sense that whatsoever from the team."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City full-back Kyle Walker has been discussing Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones on the latest episode of his BBC Sounds podcast.

The pair were team-mates in England's recent Nations League games.

Walker said: "Curtis Jones in both of the games was fantastic. I think he played really well. It's the first time that I've played with him. Obviously, I've played against him numerous times for Liverpool, but to actually play with him, he's got some ability.

"I feel that he controlled the game. He played the game at his tempo, he got on the ball.

"Normally, when certain players or players in the past have come to the England team and got their debut, they've not really expressed themselves as he did and I think that just shows the confidence that he's taking on from this season given the game time that he's got at Liverpool and under the new manager and he's brought into the national team. I thought it was a breath of fresh air.”

• Listen to You'll Never Beat Kyle Walker

Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham denies he was ever close to joining Liverpool.

He joined Madrid from Borussia Dortmund for £88.5m in June 2023 and has scored 25 goals in 56 games for the club.

"I wasn't close to signing for Liverpool. I had talks with several clubs when I was in Germany," he said.

"WhenReal Madridcall you, there are vibrations all over the house. It's not that the other teams were good or bad, but that Real Madrid is on another level."

Could Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold end up playing against his future team today?

Alexander-Arnold has been out for the last few weeks with a hamstring injury. He's on the bench today and Arne Slot said yesterday he will only bring him on if he has to.

The 26-year-old is out of contract next summer - and Real Madrid have been strongly linked. He could agree a pre-contract with them just five weeks from now.

"I am sorry but I cannot speak about Alexander-Arnold," Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti said yesterday. "He is not my player."

Alexander-Arnold's England team-mate, Real midfielder Jude Bellingham said: "He's a Liverpool player and it's disrespectful to be in his house and talk about the future.

"It's a very important game. You have to take the pressure off him. He's a great friend and I wish him all the best from tomorrow."

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti returns to the city where he spent 18 months managing Liverpool's rivals Everton.

"I consider Liverpool with a lot of repect," said the Italian, who left the Toffees to return to Real in 2021.

"Liverpool is a fantastic club with fantastic supporters. But I am still an Evertonian.

"Of course I follow Everton. I'll talk about Everton tomorrow after the match."

London-born former Arsenal trainee and Motherwell loanee Mika Biereth has put Sturm Graz 1-0 up against Girona.

Borussia Dortmund

Image source, Getty Images

Borussia Dortmund coach Nuri Sahin says Dinamo Zagreb's recent results in the Champions League have impressed him.

Dinamo suffered a 9-2 loss to Bayern Munich in their opener, changed their manager and have since been unbeaten since to move up to 19th.

"We’ve watched a lot of Dinamo’s matches. They’ve impressively earned seven points. You can see the coach’s influence. It’s a team that reflects his ideas. They have some strong players and big names," said Sahin.

While the Germans, who sit 10th, edged Sturm Graz 1-0 with a goal from Donyell Malen, Dinamo beat Slovan Bratislava 4-1 earlier this month.

"Everyone knows how special the Champions League is and we will show ourselves in the best light. I expect great effort, fighting spirit, and aggression," Dinamo boss Nenad Bjelica said.