Revenge on Liverpool's minds? Virgil van Dijk reveals 'fact' that's driving his long-term ambition of beating Real Madrid

The Spanish giants have been Liverpool’s nemesis in recent years, defeating the Reds in the 2018 and 2022 Champions League finals and eliminating them in the knockout stages in 2021 and 2023. Despite his glittering career at Anfield, Van Dijk has yet to taste victory against Real Madrid - a record he is determined to change.

"To be absolutely honest with you, I don't need fuel (of revenge) to be absolutely ready, but it's the Champions League, it's a massive game, a beautiful fixture for the neutral and we want to be on top and come out of it with a win," Van Dijk told reporters.

"Listen, the fact is that I have never beaten them. That record is a very disappointing stat so it's down to recovery and getting ready for a big one and I am looking forward to it."

Since their first Champions League final meeting in Kyiv in 2018, Real Madrid have triumphed in five of their six clashes with Liverpool. However, the Reds enter the fixture in commanding form, leading the way in the revamped Champions League format with four consecutive wins. Their consistency stands in stark contrast to Real Madrid's precarious position as they sit in the 18th place in the 36-team league table having won only two of their four games, suffering defeats against Lille and AC Milan.

As the two footballing powerhouses prepare to lock horns at Anfield, the stakes are higher than ever. Liverpool’s quest for redemption from their poor recent record and Real Madrid’s fight for a resurgence in Europe have set the stage for a captivating clash. All eyes are on the 90 minutes on Wednesday.