Real Madrid will not train at Anfield ahead of the Champions League clash against Liverpool on Tuesday evening.
Xabi Alonso has explained why Real Madrid have chosen not to train at Anfield the evening before their Champions League showdown against Liverpool on Tuesday. It is common practice in European competition for away teams to hold an open training session - where the first 15 minutes can be watched and recorded by journalists - at the host stadium, usually the night before the match.
However, it is not statutory, with UEFA giving clubs the option to instead train elsewhere earlier in the day provided the head coach and at least one player attend a press conference at the stadium.
Liverpool have regularly taken such an approach in recent years, which a fortnight ago proved beneficial after a delay to their flight to Germany for the Champions League game at Eintracht Frankfurt meant they didn't land until late at night.
And now Real have chosen to do likewise, and will train at their headquarters in Madrid on Monday morning before travelling to England for a press conference at Anfield in the early evening.
"It's my decision because we have to prepare for the match, and we prefer to do it at our training ground, in our own space, so we don't get caught by 200 cameras," said Real head coach Alonso.
The European Super League advocates go into the game having won 13 out of 14 games in all competitions this season, although the trip to Anfield is the first in a run of six consecutive away games.
Real beat Valencia 4-0 at the Bernabeu on Saturday, during which Vinicius Junior missed a penalty less than a week after seemingly having a public falling-out with Alonso when substituted in the 2-1 home win over Barcelona.
Kylian Mbappé had already scored one spot kick and was in line for a hat-trick but instead handed the ball to his Brazilian team-mate, who duly failed.
Alonso was less than impressed on the touchline, but said later: “It was because he missed the penalty; it could have been 3-0 before half-time, but then Jude (Bellingham) scored. It was the frustration of not being able to go up 3-0, that's all.
"We assign the penalty takers, and Kylian is the first one. Then they make decisions. I like it when they score penalties because it's a good opportunity.
"Kylian scored the first one, and I would have liked him to score the second one too. It's not a big deal. Kylian is still the first one.”