Real Madrid announce their team will face Liverpool two hours before the clash while Carlo Ancelotti surprises the selection

REAL MADRID have named their team to face Liverpool in TWO HOURS before kick-off.

The two teams meet in a delicious round of 16 encounter in a repeat of last year’s Champions League final.

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The Spanish giants released early team news, exactly two hours and four minutes before kick-off at Anfield.

And some fans on social media were surprised by Rodrygo’s selection, with Dani Ceballos expected to receive the nod.

Rodrygo has recently played up front while Karim Benzema has been struggling with an injury.

The Frenchman returns to the team against Liverpool but Rodrygo also retains his place in the XI.

Thibaut Courtois starts in goal, looking to repeat his exploits from last year’s final against the Reds.

Dani Carvajal, Antonio Ruediger, Eder Miliatao and David Alaba were named in a seemingly conventional 4-3-3 formation.

Luka Modric, Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde appear to play in the middle, with Rodrygo, Benzema and Vinicius Jr at the top.

However, another option would have been for Valverde to play on the winger instead of Rodrygo and for Ceballos to slip into midfield while Toni Kroos was expected to be absent through illness.

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However, Kroos came late in the squad after initially not being named in the tour company.

Aurelien Tchouameni and Ferland Mendy are still out through injury.

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