Bale, Ramos miss Anfield trip

Madrid - European champions Real Madrid will be without Gareth Bale and Sergio Ramos for their Champions League trip to Liverpool on Wednesday as both were left out of Carlo Ancelotti's squad due to injury.

Bale is also a major doubt for Saturday's first El Clasico of the season against Barcelona due to an abdominal muscle injury.

Ramos has missed the last three games for club and country due to a calf problem, but his absence is more precautionary with an eye to Barca's visit to the Bernabeu.

French internationals Karim Benzema and Raphael Varane, who missed Saturday's 5-0 thrashing of Levante due to a fever, have been included in the squad that flew to England on Tuesday morning.

Madrid sit atop Group B having won both of their games so far to sit three points clear of Liverpool and Basel.