Real Madrid forward Eden Hazard is losing his race to be fit to play against Liverpool in the Champions League next week.
Thatâs according to The Athletic, who claim that the Belgian international is likely to miss the game with a knee injury.
Madridâs World Club Cup win last weekend was the latest game Hazard was unable to take part in. He reportedly stayed in Spain instead of travelling with the squad to Morroco.
Itâs claimed that although the 32-year-old will return to training âsoon,â he has âlittle chanceâ of playing against Liverpool.
Hazard not his old self
At one time, the thought of Eden Hazard missing out on a trip to Liverpool would have been a cause for celebration.
The little Belgian seemingly used to love playing against the Reds in his Chelsea days. Some of his best goals for the Blues came against Liverpool.
Something about Anfield in particular always seemed to bring out the best in him. Back in those days, facing a Hazard-less Chelsea was to face them without their best player. He was undoubtedly a âsuperstar.â
Several years on though, and the ÂŁ150m man just isnât the same player.
His big-money move to Madrid in 2019 simply hasnât worked out. Rarely injured over seven years at Stamford Bridge, heâs had problem after problem in Spain.
Of course, that hasnât stopped him being part of a side to inflict pain upon Liverpool. Hazard was part of the Madrid squad who broke the Reds hearts in Paris last May â although he didnât get on the pitch.
Since then, he has only featured seven times for his team â starting only once. His time in the Spanish capital has yielded just 73 games and a staggeringly low seven goals.
Madrid havenât exactly been sparkling in his absence this season. But from their point of view, he wonât be missed at Anfield either. A really sad decline for one of the Premier Leagueâs best players of recent years.