Liverpool keen to avenge ‘painful’ Atletico Madrid loss | OneFootball

Virgil van Dijk is hopeful that Liverpool can avenge a ‘painful’ loss to Atletico Madrid when the sides meet in the Champions League tonight.

Liverpool begin their Champions League campaign at home to the Spanish side on Wednesday, as the teams meet on matchday one.

Atletico Madrid have been difficult opponents for English sides in recent seasons, including an elimination of Liverpool in 2019/20.

That season, Liverpool were the Champions League holders and on course for a record-breaking Premier League title win. However, the Reds were stunned in extra-time at Anfield, as Marcos Llorente’s double and an Alvaro Morata goal sent Liverpool crashing out of the competition.

Van Dijk is expecting another tough test despite Atletico’s mixed start to the La Liga season.

“Unfortunately, the last time we did it here we lost. It was a painful one at the time as well, obviously we got knocked out,” Van Dijk said at a pre-match press conference.

“But it’s a team that works so hard, it’s a world-class manager, it says a lot that he has been at that club for such a long time and [I have] a lot of respect for that. They have world-class players, a world-class goalie, I can go on and on and they are just a very difficult team to beat and they will never give up – that’s the mentality they have.

“They maybe didn’t have the best start [to the season] that they would love to in terms of in the league but I know that this is the start of their campaign as well and they would love to impress as quickly as possible as well. So, we have to be ready. We had a good session today and now it’s time to prepare in your own way at home and be ready for tomorrow.”

Read – Van Dijk confident Liverpool can do ‘great’ things in Champions League

See more – Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid – Match Preview and Team News

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