Liverpool and Atletico Madrid raise the curtain on their respective Champions League campaigns with a heavyweight meeting at Anfield on Wednesday.
Both teams were eliminated at the competition’s round-of-16 stage last time and will aim to make a deeper run this time around.
Liverpool preview
Liverpool were far from their usual standards, but showed the hallmark of champions to get themselves over the line in Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Burnley.
A late Mohamed Salah penalty got the job done for Arne Slot’s men to secure a fourth league win of the campaign and send them back to the summit of the Premier League table.
Liverpool will now turn their attention to continental matters as they kick off a hectic schedule that features five games in the final 13 days of September, starting with Wednesday’s clash.
The reigning English champions got the better of their upcoming opponents in both encounters when the teams faced off in the 2021 group stages. Atletico prevailed in a last-16 tie the previous year.
Atletico Madrid preview
After collecting just two points from their opening three league matches, Atletico secured a much-needed return to winning ways in Saturday’s meeting with Villarreal.
Goals in either half from Pablo Barrios and new signing Nicolas Gonzalez handed Diego Simeone’s side all three points at the Wanda Metropolitano
Atletico have opened the scoring in all of their matches, although the same can also be said about Liverpool, so the first goal could prove crucial in determining who emerges victorious at Anfield.
Given their struggles on the road either side of May’s season finale against Girona, Wednesday’s visitors will need to get their act together at both ends of the field if they are to secure a positive result.
Team news
Alexander Isak was not part of Liverpool’s matchday squad against Burnley, but he is expected to be in contention to play a part here.
Stefan Bajcetic and Curtis Jones are unavailable through injury, while Federico Chiesa is ineligible to participate, having been omitted from the Champions League squad.
Jeremie Frimpong returned to action off the bench last time out, although Slot could opt to stick with Dominik Szoboszlai at right-back.
Thiago Almada and Alex Baena are both nursing muscle injuries, and neither is expected to take part for Atletico.
Defensive duo Jose Maria Gimenez and David Hancko are also likely to miss out, but Robin Le Normand should feature.
Liverpool Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Kerkez, Van Dijk, Konate, Szoboszlai; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Gakpo, Wirtz, Salah; Ekitike.
Atletico Madrid Predicted XI (4-4-2): Oblak; Galan, Lenglet, Le Normand, Llorente; Gallagher, Koke, Barrios, Simeone: Sorloth, Alvarez.
