Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid live: Reds face Alexander Isak decision in Champions League test | OneFootball

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Slot defends Wirtz after slow start to Liverpool career

Liverpool are one of the favourites to win the Champions League this season and will aim to get their campaign off to a winning start as they host Atletico Madrid.

Arne Slot’s team have won all four of their Premier League matches this term but they have been reliant on late goals with Sunday’s victory over Burnley coming in the 95th minute.

Mohamed Salah has made a quiet start to the season and that has raised questions over his status in the side while record signing Alexander Isak could make his debut for the club tonight.

In comparison, Atletico have won just one of their four LaLiga matches this season and Diego Simeone will be hoping to spring a surprise at Anfield tonight. Follow all the team news, build-up and latest updates with our live blog below

Focus on Atletico: is there pressure on Simeone?

Atletico Madrid arrive at Anfield having won just once this season, with Saturday’s 2-0 win over Villarreal offering Diego Simeone some respite after defeat at Espanyol and draws against Elche and Alaves.

Simeone has entered his 15th season in charge of Atletico but he hinted he would have been under pressure had they failed to win any of their first four games of the season. It’s also been five years since Atletico last won a trophy.

“I was happy when we won,” he said afterwards. “Today, winning is a relief, you understand? A relief. And I don’t like that. But that’s the responsibility I have.”

Diego Simeone is into his 15th season in charge of Atletico (Action Images via Reuters)

Arne Slot slams ‘pundits that favour other clubs’ in defence of Liverpool’s £450m summer spending spree

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot launched an impassioned defence of the club's unprecedented summer transfer activity after taking a swipe at criticism from "pundits that favour other clubs".

The deadline-day capture of Alexander Isak for a British record £125million took their spending to £450m on eight players, all aged 25 or under and viewed as an investment in the club's long-term future.

That headline figure has understandably attracted a lot of scrutiny but Slot was keen to point out it was not reckless spending as they recouped over £250m in sales, having spent just £10m the previous summer.

"There is so much focus on our new signings, especially from pundits that favour some other clubs in the country that cannot stop talking about £450m. I repeat, £450m, £450m! But they forget about (nearly) £300m that we have sold for," said Slot.

Arne Slot defends Liverpool’s £450m summer spending spree

The Liverpool boss said the summer buys were viewed as an investment in the club’s long-term future

Jamie Braidwood17 September 2025 18:05