Jamie Carragher does not pick Liverpool as his favorite to win Champions League

Jamie Carragher has tipped , despite its uneven start.

With its rich history of 15 titles and a reputation for pulling off victories even when not at its peak, the defending champions are believed to have what it takes to go all the way. The introduction of the, featuring a single league table and eight games for the 36 teams involved, hasn't been straightforward for Los Blancos — they find themselves in 12th place, having won two and lost one of their opening three matches.

Despite not sitting in the automatic qualification spots currently, is confident that Real's experience will shine through in the later rounds. After a surprising defeat by Lille, and challenging encounters with AC Milan, Liverpool, and Atalanta looming, the Spanish giants remain undeterred following a convincing win over Borussia Dortmund.

Speaking on 's fan debate, brought to you by , Carragher expressed his belief that Real Madrid's knack for hitting their stride in critical moments will see them through: "You know what Real Madrid are going to do with this new Champions League format, they're going to sneak through that qualifying round by the skin of their teeth and then they'll end up going on to win it all. What a club."

Carragher has voiced his support for the revamped tournament structure, which has seen an increase in matches but hasn't yet sparked much thrill. He's of the opinion that the excitement will peak as the group stage concludes, particularly if football heavyweights like Real Madrid are at risk of missing out on direct qualification to the last-16.

"It's funny with Real Madrid – obviously they're not in the top eight at the moment," he said. "And the next two games are AC Milan and Liverpool. Let's say we (Liverpool) beat them at Anfield and they get a draw with AC Milan; you're in a situation where Real Madrid has got three games to go and the table's moving."

Following a crushing 4-0 defeat by Barcelona in El Clasico, Real Madrid is still recovering from the blow. The loss has prompted harsh feedback from fans and media alike, yet coach Carlo Ancelotti remains unfazed.

"I do not regret my game plan," Ancelotti declared during his post-match press conference. "I have been in football for 48 years, so I'm not wrong when I tell you that the first half was good. It's different from the loss against Lille. We were very bad that day. We competed today.

"We have to learn from this. Self-criticism is fundamental. But we don't throw everything in the bin," Ancelotti continued. " added Ancelotti. Last time we lost 4-0 to Barcelona, we won La Liga and the Champions League. We fight on."