Diego Simeone makes big call on Julian Alvarez ahead of Atletico’s visit to Liverpool | OneFootball

Liverpool could potentially come up against Julian Alvarez when they take on Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

The Argentine forward has become a highly unpopular figure among many fans of the LaLiga club after his unsuccessful attempts to force through a move to Barcelona in the summer transfer window, something that Atleti chiefs steadfastly refused to sanction.

The 26-year-old was booed by his own team’s supporters when he came on against Villarreal a fortnight ago and was omitted for the subsequent fixture away to Sevilla, though he appeared as a substitute in the weekend defeat to Athletic Bilbao.

Alvarez named in Atletico squad for Anfield clash

On Tuesday, Atletico’s official English language X channel confirmed the full list of players named by Diego Simeone in his matchday squad for the game against Liverpool tomorrow night.

Los Rojiblancos are without two forwards in Alexander Sorloth (injured) and Arnau Ortiz (suspension), but Alvarez has been included in the travelling party for the visit to Merseyside.

(Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

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Alvarez boasts excellent Champions League pedigree

The Argentina international is likely to run the gauntlet from Atletico supporters for some time yet after his attempts to join Barcelona in the summer, but there’s no disputing that his team will be much stronger for him being in it than left out.

The reduced number of forwards available to Simeone is also bound to have played a part in the 26-year-old’s inclusion, and he’ll want to atone for missing the 3-2 defeat at Anfield last September due to injury.

Alvarez has scored twice across five previous meetings against Liverpool but only been on the winning side once (4-1 for Manchester City in April 2023), although his record in the Champions League is formidable.

He’s netted 25 times in 42 matches in the competition, including 10 goals in Atletico’s run to the semi-finals last season, so his pedigree as a striker at the highest level in Europe is undoubted.

If Simeone entrusts him to start tomorrow night, the Reds’ defence will need to be at their sharpest to thwart the Argentina attacker, who hopefully won’t begin mending his relationship with his club’s fans until after this game.