THERE will be no on-field reunion between Adam Lallana and Gareth Bale in tomorrow’s Champions League showdown at Anfield.

The former Saints had been preparing to line up against each other when Liverpool hosted Real Madrid But Bale has been left out of the Madrid squad as the Wales international battles a muscle injury.

Bale was unlikely to feature at Anfield after Madrid announced yesterday that the forward was suffering from a gluteal injury, and this morning the world's most expensive player was a confirmed absentee from Carlo Ancelotti's 20-man squad for the trip to Anfield.

The 25-year-old was an unused substitute in Saturday's Primera Division win over Levante on his return from international duty, having played the full 90 minutes in both of Wales' Euro 2016 qualifiers against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Cyprus.

Reports in Spain suggest that Bale is also set to miss this weekend's Clasico showdown against Barcelona at the Bernabeu, as well as the possibility of further matches.

Madrid, the reigning European champions, will be defending their 100 per cent record in Champions League Group B at Liverpool, who have won one and lost one so far.