Liverpool host Real on Tuesday night in the first leg of their round of 16 tie, less-than a year after they lost to Los Blancos in the final of the competition.
It is a crucial game for the Reds as the Champions League is the only major trophy left that they can win, and victory in it could be there only way of qualifying for the competition next season.
Even after beating Newcastle on Saturday evening, courtesy of goals from Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo, Liverpool are eighth in the table and six points off the top four.
With so many important games coming up for the club, Klopp may well be tempted to rotate his side, especially given how many injuries they have suffered already this campaign.
But former Liverpool manager Benitez, who also took in spells at Real and Newcastle, has urged him not to do so, instead recommending that Klopp stick with the side that beat the Magpies, especially when it comes to the attack.
‘It depends on what kind of attack he [Klopp] has in his head for Real Madrid because they have had problems in the left-back position,’ the Spaniard told Sky Sports.
‘They’ve played [Eduardo] Camavinga there but that is a problem because he is a midfielder, so he could easily start [Mohamed] Salah, but then they could put [David] Alaba on the left like they did the other day and it will be more difficult.
‘I’m glad he gave minutes to [Diogo] Jota and [Roberto] Firmino. But if I was the manager, I would put my best team out there in terms of fitness and and confidence.’
Benitez also warned Klopp that his defenders needed to be sharper against Real Madrid than they were against Newcastle, as while they kept a clean sheet they struggled to hold off their opponents even after they went down to 10-men.
‘If they do what they did tonight against [Karim] Benzema, against Vinicius, Madrid will score,’ he added.
‘Benzema is clever, his movement in between the lines is quite complicated and the Vinicius also is a threat. When they can pass and avoid the press and play in behind they are very dangerous.’
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