Atletico Madrid dealt double blow ahead of Liverpool clash | OneFootball

Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid: Anfield Awaits After Atletico Injury Setback

Liverpool go into Wednesday night’s Champions League opener with a useful edge before a ball is kicked. Atletico Madrid are expected to arrive at Anfield without two forward options, and while Diego Simeone still has enough experience and bite in his squad, that matters.

This fixture needs no dressing up. These sides know each other well, and Liverpool edged the last meeting on Merseyside 3-2, Virgil van Dijk settling it in stoppage time. That was chaotic, tense and typically Atletico. Expect more of the same.

For Liverpool, this is also a notable night for Andoni Iraola. It will be his first Champions League match as head coach, and there are worse ways to begin than with the opposition missing attacking depth.

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Atletico Madrid injuries alter attacking options

Alexander Sorloth is reportedly set to miss the trip, with the striker “still not expected back” from injury in time to feature at Anfield. That removes a physical focal point, and against Liverpool that can be significant, especially if the game turns direct late on.

Arnau Ortiz is also unavailable, this time through suspension. The ban dates back to a Conference League sending off two years ago while he was with Slask Wroclaw against St Gallen, and because he has not appeared in Europe since, it remains active.

That is the dry reality of squad management in Europe. Sometimes absences are current, sometimes they are administrative, but they count all the same.

Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid remains awkward

Still, nobody should pretend Atletico arrive harmless. Giuliano Simeone offers drive from the right, Alex Baena has started the season sharply with three goals in four matches, and Marcos Llorente has an irritating habit of producing at Anfield. Liverpool have seen that before, more than once.

Atletico’s domestic form has been patchy, seven points from 12 available, and the 3-0 defeat at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday was ugly. That said, Simeone sides rarely need rhythm to make life difficult. They need organisation, aggression and a game state they can control.

Anfield test comes with Liverpool injuries too

Liverpool are not exactly untouched themselves. Hugo Ekitike and Federico Chiesa are both absent, which trims Iraola’s attacking options. Even so, the mood is steadier after the win at Ipswich, and Anfield on a European night remains a serious advantage.

There is no mystery about what this will look like. Atletico will compete, slow it down when required, and look for moments. Liverpool will need patience as much as quality.

On balance, the absences tilt things slightly towards the home side. That does not guarantee anything, especially against Simeone. It does, however, make a Liverpool win the likelier outcome, and another narrow result would surprise nobody.

Reports in Spain suggest Atletico’s forward issues are real. If Liverpool are clinical, that could be enough.