Real Madrid sanction confirmed ahead of Liverpool's Champions League showdown

Real Madrid captain Daniel Carvajal has been handed a two-match ban in the Champions League after his red card against Marseille, but will be available to face Liverpool

Real Madrid defender Daniel Carvajal will serve a two-match suspension in the Champions League and could yet feature against Liverpool. UEFA have sanctioned Los Blancos skipper after he was shown a red card for violent conduct in their League Phase opener win over Marseille.

The Spanish right-back was dismissed after a review from VAR after appearing to headbutt Geronimo Rulli in their 2-1 victory over Roberto De Zerbi's side. As a result of the decision by the governing body, he will miss tonight's encounter against Kairat Almaty and the next fixture against Juventus.

However, he will be in line to feature against Liverpool on November 4, should he be fit to play.

UEFA rules dictate that a player or team official sent off by the referee is automatically suspended for one match in UEFA club competitions.

The governing body can increase the ban should the offence be serious and in this case, they applied Article 15, paragraph 1, which refers to "assault on another player." As a result, they imposed a two-match ban.

The 33-year-old was ruled out for four weeks after being forced off at the weekend.

Carvajal was substituted on the hour mark of their 5-2 defeat to rivals Atletico Madrid and it was confirmed on Sunday that he had suffered a calf injury.

His issue adds to a mounting problem in the right-back position for Xabi Alonso as former Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold is also out with a thigh injury.

In a statement regarding Carvajal's injury, Real Madrid wrote: "Following tests carried out today on Dani Carvajal by Real Madrid's medical department, the player has been diagnosed with an injury to the soleus muscle in his right leg. His progress will be monitored."

Both players are battling against time to be ready for the blockbuster clash at Anfield, with the England defender desperate for a swift recovery – though his participation in the Merseyside showdown hangs in the balance.

Madrid face the Kazakhstani outfit on Tuesday night as they aim to maintain their perfect record with two victories from two matches.

They'll be desperate to secure maximum points before their eagerly-anticipated reunion with Arne Slot's side at the start of November for matchday four.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are determined to bounce back against Galatasaray following their setback in the Premier League, having been defeated 2-1 by Crystal Palace.

A dramatic winner deep into added time handed the Reds their first blow of the season on Saturday. Despite their near-flawless beginning as reigning champions, their displays have faced increasing criticism.

"For me, defending is only a small margin," the Liverpool boss remarked before the Turkish encounter.

"One of our strengths last season was we kept teams away from our goal and that starts somewhere else, not defenders.

"We have conceded four goals from set-pieces, so we have changed full-backs but we have changed a bit more [in other positions]. The goals we conceded, I will look back in detail, but the first thing that comes to my mind is not that the new full-backs are the problem.

"We need 11 players to work incredibly hard to stop chances but you can work as hard as you want but setpieces are a different game inside the game.

"We hardly conceded from set-pieces last season, so we have to prove we have been unlucky with that, because that can happen but we definitely have to improve because I see teams who win Premier League games because of set-pieces. We lose them."