Liverpool looks to make it three wins out of three in the group stage of the Champions League with a trip to Madrid to face Atletico. The English side also has to seek revenge after a surprise defeat for them at this venue last time out.
Match Details :
When: Tuesday, October 19/ Wednesday, October 20
Timings: 21:00 (local)/ 00:30 (IST)
Where: Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid
ATM vs LIV Match Preview :
Atletico Madrid as seen under Simone doesn't play every game on the same note or tempo. This season is no different.
The La Liga champions have started the defense of their trophy sitting fourth on the table with five wins, two draws, and a solitary loss to their name after eight games. Their fixture against Granada in the weekend was canceled after special permission from the league to cope up with the unavailability of South American players due to their international commitments. Although unconvincing in certain games, Atletico are a team known to grind out results. In Europe too, the pattern has been similar. After drawing 0-0 with Porto in the opening group stage game, the Colchoneros had to rely on a late Luis Suarez penalty to overturn a first-half deficit against a 10 men AC Milan side on gameday two that placed them second on the chart after two games. Atletico faces the high-flying Liverpool team next but are hopeful to implicit another painful memory at the Wanda Metropolitan.
Liverpool are firing at all cylinders by playing to their full strength to blaze away last season's frustration. The Reds are placed second on the premier league table trailing Chelsea on top only by a point but the only side in the Premier League is set to lose a game. Their 5-0 outclassing of Watford in the weekend showed their ferocious nature with them also being the side scoring the most number of goals (22) so far this season. 'Egyptian King' as dubbed by the fans, Mohammed Salah is involved in half of those goals, mostly stunners, adding another productive season to his career and getting into the conversation of being among the world's best. Liverpool dominance has prevailed in Europe for obvious reasons with a thrilling 3-2 win over AC Milan in the first matchday backed by a 5-0 crushing of FC Porto. The Reds' away record has been excellent too stretching to 10 games without any loss in all competitions. Such an admirable record is expected to pay dividends when they travel to the Spanish capital.
Recent Form :
Atletico Madrid: WWLWD
Liverpool: WDWDW
ATM vs LIV Team News :
Diego Simeone said in his pre-match presser that the trio of Marcos Llorente, Jose Gimenez and Matheus Cunha will have to take a late fitness test to be in contention. That means the Argentinian can place Geoffrey Kondogbia in the center back if the Uruguayan fails to recover on time as Stefan Savic is serving his two-match suspension leaving the team without a senior player for the role to support Felipe. Llorente is racing against time to be fit in training to play against the opposition he eliminated with his brace in the last 16 stages of the 2019/20 season. Luis Suarez will be wishing to score against his former side after doing so in a Barcelona shirt two years back.
Liverpool's Brazilian duo, Alisson Becker and Fabinho are already in Madrid following their quarantine protocols to meet the necessary days after being involved in the international break for the South American qualifiers and hence missed the weekend's 5-0 drubbing of Watford. Caoimhin Kelleher and James Milner replaced them in the starting lineup at Vicarage road but they will be back for this pivotal clash. Diego Jota and Trent Alexander-Arnold were passed fit at the weekend although the Portuguese were replaced by Roberto Firmino who scored the hat trick in the win. The Brazilian is tipped to keep his place after such a fine outing. That will be his 300th appearance for Liverpool. Curtis Jones is not back in full training yet after suffering an injury in his national duties for the U21s so he and Thiago Alcantara won't feature against Atletico.
Predicted Lineups :
Atlético Madrid: Jan Oblak; Felipe, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Mario Hermoso, Kieran Trippier, Rodrigo De Paul, Koke, Thomas Lemar, Yannick Carrasco, Luis Suarez, Antoine Griezmann
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Van Dijk, Andrew Robertson, Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Naby Keita, Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane
Head to Head :
These two only met only once in a double-legged round of 16 fixtures back in 2019 in the history of the Champions League. Liverpool doesn't have happy memories from this tie as being then favorites they lost the first leg played at the Metropolitano, the same place they lift the silverware a year back from the affair, through the only goal scored by now Chelsea man Saul Niguez inside just four minutes. The Reds dominated the ball without any real openings, vowing out of the contest at Anfield in the reverse fixture.
ATM vs LIV Dream11 Team :
GK: Alisson (LIV)
DEF: Trent (LIV), Van Dijk (LIV), Gimenez (ATM), Hermoso (ATM)
MID: Llorente (ATM), Fabinho (LIV), Henderson (LIV)
FW: Salah (LIV), Suarez (ATM), Mane (LIV)
Match Prediction: Atletico Madrid 1-2 Liverpool
It is hard to resist this locomotive at this moment for Liverpool are raging in their current form. Atletico, staying true to their nature, is a hard nut to crack and neither a massive goal threat but their home advantage won't do any favor this time out. Klopp's men are eager to get all three points from here to make themselves easier for the returning fixture at Anfield.
Stay tuned to our Fantasy Football section for the Dream11 team.
